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Background: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people experience markedly higher suicide mortality than non-Indigenous youth in Australia, yet there is little evidence of effective preventative strategies. Many are misaligned to the needs of First Nations young people due to a lack of consideration of protective factors such as community and cultural connection. Objective: To date no research has examined whether increasing cultural connectedness may reduce Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth suicidality. The current study outlines the development, implementation, and pilot evaluation of Project Yarn Circle, a school-based suicide prevention initiative utilising cultural education and connection. Method: Project Yarn Circle was piloted by an Indigenous owned and managed youth mental health organisation, delivering 5 weekly sessions to 276 young people at 9 schools in Southeast Queensland, Australia, between 2019 and 2023. Sessions connected students to cultural knowledge and practices (stories, painting, dance, Indigenous languages) with Elders and local cultural knowledge facilitators. Results: Pre- and post-program evaluation questionnaires completed 6–8 weeks apart found that participants had significantly lower suicidal ideation (GHQ-18-SS), pre 7.16, post 6.61, p =.043 higher positive ideation/reasons for living (PANSI-PI) pre 22.44, post 23.60, p =.009, and higher self-esteem (RSES) pre 16.55, post 23.60, p =.005. Analyses of cultural connectedness items co-designed for this evaluation study and validated using Exploratory Factor Analysis found that students demonstrated greater cultural identity clarity, peer cultural competence, strength from culture, salience of cultural continuity and sense of belonging. Conclusions: These findings provide new evidence towards utilising cultural connectedness as an intervention mechanism in Indigenous youth suicide prevention. KEY POINTS: What is already known about this topic: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth suicide rates are persistently higher than for other young people, with little evidence of effective suicide prevention strategies. Interventions often are misaligned to the different risk and protective factors experienced by First Nations young people. Connection to culture is promoted as a unique protective factor to reduce suicide risk for First Nations young people. What this topic adds: To our knowledge this is the first published cultural engagement intervention to report significant improvement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth suicidality, providing an example of the development and delivery of a new program approach. This is the first study to explore increases in connection to culture in conjunction with lowered suicidal ideation and higher reasons for living. The findings suggest that connection to culture can be used as a therapeutic mechanism to reduce suicidality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saliva is valuable in exposure assessment having been successfully used for drug and environmental pollutant detection, providing a surrogate measure of plasma concentrations. Pyrethroid biomarkers have not previously been assessed in saliva, although are prime candidates for saliva detection. This study's objectives were to (1) develop a liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) method to quantify six pyrethroid metabolites using gas chromatography/ion trap mass spectrometry and (2) assess its application for an occupationally exposed population. Several solvents and mixing protocols were optimized for metabolite recovery. The optimized method was applied to a population of pest control operators (PCOs) and compared against a urine sample before and after a full workday using pesticides. A questionnaire collected demographic information, occupational history, and occupational and non-occupational exposure data. LLE recoveries ranged from 85–104% and 72–88% for toluene and dichloromethane using slow mixing, and 49–103% for methyl tert-butyl ether by fast mixing. Urinary 3-Phenoxybenzoic acid (3PBA) was detected in 100% of pre- and post-work urine samples. Three PCOs had increased urinary pyrethroid metabolite levels post-work. Salivary 3PBA was present below detection limit in two of the three PCO's post-work saliva samples, demonstrating that salivary 3PBA could be measured in PCOs after the workday. This study presents preliminary findings of a potential, low-risk biomonitoring technique that may be utilized in future occupational pyrethroid exposure and risk assessment research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glyphosate is a widely used herbicide worldwide. Research on human health effects has been limited and the toxicokinetics of glyphosate have not been widely examined. This research aimed to study the excretion profile and half-life of glyphosate in farmers and residents who use glyphosate to control weeds in their agricultural fields and near their households, respectively. Multiple spot urine samples per day were collected from the participants for 3 consecutive days after spraying glyphosate. The participants were interviewed about general characteristics, planting activities, glyphosate use, and their health problems related to glyphosate use. Glyphosate concentrations in urine samples were determined by HPLC with a fluorescence detector. The average age of residents (56.4 years) was significantly higher than that of farmers (45.5 years). The glyphosate excretion profile of most participants showed a gradual decline in glyphosate concentrations, but with or without additional exposures some of the profiles showed a jagged pattern of decline. The average urinary half-life of glyphosate in all participants was 24.58 h (95% CI: 18.43–30.73) and 20.95 h (95%CI: 16.85–25.05) for creatinine adjusted and non-adjusted measurements, respectively. The urinary glyphosate half-life measurements among the residents and farmers were not significantly different. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a strong link between pesticide exposure risk and farmers' safety behavior. However, there is a lack of understanding of farmers' safety behavior in pesticide use and the psychological factors that influence it, especially in Nigeria. This study aimed to identify safety behaviors in pesticide use and their determinants among cocoa farmers in Nigeria using the Health Belief Model (HBM). We used a suitable questionnaire to retrieve data from 391 cocoa farmers across three major cocoa-producing belts in Nigeria. The data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings showed that cocoa farmers in this study sprayed insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides on their cocoa farms. The study revealed that most pesticides were not approved for cocoa production by the authority, but the farmers were still using them. The study participants overused surveyed pesticides as the quantities applied were beyond the recommended dosage by the manufacturers. Correlation analysis showed a relationship between education status, pesticide training, perceived susceptibility and cue to action, and the farmers' pesticide overuse. In all, 42.7% of the farmers showed unsafe behaviors, 49.1% showed intermediate behaviors, and just 8.2% reported safe behaviors in pesticide use. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that perceived barriers, susceptibility, self-efficacy, and cue to action were related to age, education status, and farm experience and accounted for 59.3% of the total variance in the farmers' pesticide safety behaviors. Perceived barriers had the most significant negative influence on the farmers' behaviors, while perceived susceptibility, self-efficacy, and cue to action positively influenced the farmers' behavior. Future intervention programs in Nigeria incorporating significant variables, especially perceived barriers, in their designs with proper implementation could be more effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pandemic returned me to photography. It heightened my awareness of movement. In common with many others, during lockdown, I took to walking, increasingly, in my case, with camera in hand. When lockdown lifted, it was Paris that I was drawn to. In a city such as Paris, one of the consequences of the pandemic was a re-enchantment of public spaces. If the lockdown prevented indoor encounters, the public park became a scene of meeting. A sharing of light and shadow. no longer not yet is a response to my encounter with the chairs as I walked in the parks: empty, clustered together in pairs and groups, abandoned at random or carefully arranged, they came to seem like the ghostly traces of a series of meetings that I was either too late or too early to witness. These chairs marked the dehiscence of the present moment; the no longer and the not yet. Who sat here? Who will sit here? Why? What desires filled the empty spaces? The chair is both open and indifferent to such questions, even as they in turn become the prompt to a desire for narratives that might give form to these hauntological meetings. Between documentation and imagination. The photographs and text here are mine, although there are traces of the voices of others, just as there are traces of meeting. The photograph shadows forth that which is no longer there. It produces ghosts, even if they cannot be seen or heard within the frame. The clusterings of words and images gathering here are part of a sequence continuing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turtles, as a long-lived reptile, have been used as important tools to study heavy metal contamination because the accumulation of pollutants in the turtles is indicative of human health and ecological risks. The purpose of this study was to examine 10 heavy metals, including Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, As, Pb, Cd and Hg, in the surface waters, sediments, gastropods, and Khorat snail-eating turtle (Malayemys khoratensis) blood and to investigate the bioaccumulation factor (BAF) influenced by the heavy metal e-waste recycling activities in the area. Heavy metals were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP–MS). The mean concentrations of heavy metals were Fe > Mn > Zn > As > Ni > Pb > Hg in the surface waters, Fe > Mn > Zn > Cr > Pb > Ni > Cu > As > Hg in the sediments, Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu > Cr > Ni > As = Pb > Cd = Hg in gastropods and Fe > Zn > Cu > Ni > Cr > Hg > Pb in turtle blood. Noteworthy, the highest concentration of toxic heavy metal in surface water was As (0.0020 ± 0.0006 mg/L) while Cr was highest in sediments (10.6320 ± 2.3711 mg/kg), gastropods (0.9563 ± 0.3426 mg/kg) and turtle bloods (0.0706 ± 0.0131 mg/L). Zn had the highest BAF concentration in turtle blood (7,958.4240 ± 6,798.5850 L/kg) and significant bioaccumulation potential. This study presented that heavy metal pollution from e-waste recycling sites can accumulate in freshwater turtles and implies that the rice field ecosystems around the e-waste recycling activity site were contaminated with toxic heavy metals. Therefore, the local people and wildlife inhabiting the areas were exposed to toxicity risks from toxic heavy metals from unsafe recycling activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorpyrifos is a widely used agricultural insecticide. Chlorpyrifos exposure affects brain development and children's overall health. The objective of this study was to assess the health risks from skin exposure to chlorpyrifos and to investigate the factors associated with chlorpyrifos exposure among children in agricultural areas. Residual chlorpyrifos samples were collected from the hands and feet of 130 children (aged 1–3) to analyze chlorpyrifos content using high-pressure liquid chromatography with a diode array detector. Chlorpyrifos residues were detected on the skin of 73.1% of the children tested. The health risk assessment of non-cancerous effects showed that children had dermal chlorpyrifos exposure at 1.46 × 10−5 mg/kg-day, and the hazard quotient (HQ) of child dermal chlorpyrifos exposure was 0.03, which is an acceptable level. The frequency of accompanying parents to pesticide-sprayed areas was significantly associated with dermal chlorpyrifos exposure levels in children (ORadjust =1.44, 95%CI =1.02–2.03). However, children in agricultural areas may be subject to additional health risks from exposure to other pesticides through respiration and ingestion. Therefore, they should not be allowed to accompany their parents to agricultural areas, and a program to prevent pesticides from affecting children in these areas should be developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) has emerged agricultural population. This study aimed to obtain a prevalence of cholinesterase activity and CKDu, and evaluate factors associated with organophosphate (OP) and carbamate (CA) poisoning and CKDu among farmers in Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 58 farmers, with data collected using a structured questionnaire. Blood and urine samples were collected for analysis of erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), serum creatinine (SCr), and urinary creatinine (UCr). Farmers who had CKD without diabetes, hypertension, proteinurea, and other traditional causes were classified as CKDu. The average age (± SD) was 49.22(± 6.87) years. The prevalence of abnormal AChE and BuChE activity levels were 55.17% and 46.55%, respectively. In kidney function, the prevalence of abnormal UCr was 17.24% and CKDu was 24.14%. In adjusted model, the type of pesticide sprayer and personal protective equipment used were significantly associated with CKDu (bivariate analysis, p < 0.05). Using multivariate analysis, OP and CA poisoning were significantly associated with a 4.703-fold higher risk of CKDu (95% CI = 1.020-21.686). Farmers who applied OP and CA pesticides had decreased kidney function. These findings might be beneficial in reducing the adverse effects pesticide exposure and CKDu prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to determine the levels of selected polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in human milk and characterize the risk for breastfed infants using EFSA and U.S. EPA methodologies. The predominant PBDEs for which EFSA and U.S. EPA established toxicological reference values have been selected for evaluation. Concentrations of BDE-47, BDE-99 and BDE-153 were determined in breast milk samples from 25 mothers living in Poland. The estimated daily intakes of PBDEs for breastfed infants were calculated based on the results of PBDE concentrations obtained for each case and for the mean concentrations of the analyzed compounds. The estimated infants' daily intake of PBDEs from human milk was below U.S. EPA RfD, therefore not considered a health risk. In calculations according to approach applying MOEs (EFSA), we indicated a potential health concern with respect to exposure of infants to BDE-99. The calculated results based on the available methodologies do not provide clear information for the purposes of consumer safety assessment regarding exposure to the BDE-99 congener. Present study indicates the necessity to develop an internationally harmonized strategy for assessing the risk posed by polybrominated diphenyl ethers, especially for breast-fed infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugarcane farmers and cutters have been reported to be at high risk of acute kidney injury. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess acute kidney injury biomarkers, and cross-shift change among 150 sugarcane cutters and 98 sugarcane farmers in Thailand. Physical health examination, environmental measurements, and measured urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) were assessed. Cross-shift change of urine creatinine (uCr), albumin creatinine ratio (ACR), and NGAL between sugarcane farmers and cutters was compared. Factors influencing abnormal post-shift ACR and NGAL were analyzed by binary logistic regression adjusted with covariates. Sugarcane cutters were significantly more likely to take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and herbs to relieve pain than sugarcane farmers. Males were more likely to be current smokers and drinkers although 62% of cutters and 56% of farmers were female. Sugarcane farmers and cutters had similar post-shift estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and ACR levels. Cross-shift measurements showed that both sugarcane cutters and sugarcane farmers had significantly higher post-shift geometric mean (GM) urinary NGAL, but that the cross-shift changes of NGAL were significantly higher for sugarcane cutters (182%) vs. sugarcane farmers (112%). Water intake less than recommendation of subjects was a significant predictor of a higher risk for an abnormal post-shift ACR after controlling for covariates, while being a sugarcane cutter was a predictor of a lower risk of an abnormal risk of a post-shift NGAL after controlling for covariates. Measurements of heat stress (WBGT plus workload) found that sugarcane cutters exceeded recommended exposures while sugarcane farmers were compliance to the TLV. These findings suggest that to protect sugarcane farmers and cutters, preventative measures are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture in Thailand, which employs over 30 percent of the workforce and contributes significantly to the country's gross domestic product, is a key sector of its economy. Import and use of pesticides has increased over the past decade due to Thailand's major role as a leading exporter of food and agricultural products. The widespread and poorly regulated use of pesticides presents a potential risk to the health of farmers, farm families, the general population including children and the environment. This article is a result of the Southeast Asia GEOHealth Network Meeting of February 2019. It summarizes the current situation on pesticide use and regulation in Thailand and reports research findings on the potential health and environmental impacts of pesticide use, as well as highlighting gaps in research that could play an important and influential role in future policy initiatives on pesticides. Although Thailand has made remarkable progress in improving agricultural health and safety and similarly strong research and policy programs are being developed in other countries in the region, there are still significant gaps in research and policy that need to be filled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prolonged low-lead exposure of communication radio-repair workers working routinely for soldering may have adverse health. This study aims to investigate health effects of lead exposure among workers working in a plant building. There were 66 repair workers in exposed group and 54 clerks in low exposed group. The structured-questionnaire of general characteristics was used for face to face interview. Blood samples were collected for assessing blood lead level (BLL), hepatic and kidney functions. High blood pressure was also diagnosed. Mean age (SD) of exposed and low exposed group were 36.9 (10.1) and 41.3 (10.7) years old. Of 39.4% exposed group was working 6 h/day and 61.1% of low exposed group was 8 h/day. Median BLL of the exposed group was 2.28 µg/dL which was higher than BLL of another group at 1.04 µg/dL (p-value <.001). There was the significant association between BLL and hypertension (OR = 1.384 and p-value =.040). The findings revealed that there were existing adverse effects of low-lead levels on the workers working in the same plant building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to pyrethroids (PYR) commonly used in households affects nervous system in children. Data on pyrethroids exposure related to neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is unknown. This study aims to investigate a relationship between urinary pyrethroids metabolite and GABA concentration, and determine factors related to pyrethroids metabolite among young children in urban areas in Bangkok, Thailand. Urine samples (n = 80) were collected from children aged 2–3 years in April – May 2019 and their mothers completed a questionnaire. Urinary metabolite, 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA), was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC/MS) and GABA was measured by enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay kit (ELISA). The result showed that median concentration of 3-PBA metabolite was 1.46 µg/mL and GABA median concentration was 355.11 ng/mL. The 3-PBA concentration was negatively correlated with GABA concentration (rs= −0.230, p < 0.05). 3-PBA concentration were significantly associated with personal exposure factors, use of insecticide coil, frequency of PYR insecticide use, and frequency of floor-cleaning (p < 0.05). Daily use of insecticide coil in households can cause children exposure to PYR while walking bare feet. Consequently, these factors may affect neurotransmitter GABA level in PYR exposed children. This study suggest that should give education and awareness to reduce risk of PYR insecticide exposure to children living in households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organohalogen compounds constitute one of the important groups of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Among them, due to their long-term health effects, one should pay attention on polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and perfluoroalkylated substances (PFASs). In case of that anthropogenic group of environmental pollution, the scientific world faces a problem of not only checking their toxic influences on the human organism at different age, from the natal period till late elderly years, but also monitoring the levels of such a numerous group of compounds in various environments, including human tissues and body fluids. This gave birth to a concept of checking the levels of selected biomarkers of exposure in the human organism, calculating body burden and assessing the hazard exposure to human beings. This article is an attempt to answer the question whether testing only biomarkers for different groups of pollutants is enough to determine the threat to different human populations. CB-153 levels represent a significant share in the sum of the six indicator NDL-PCBs (42.96%). In contrary to PCBs, in the case of PBDEs, not only BDE-47 is a biomarker of exposure to the entire PBDEs group, the congener BDE-153 cannot be omitted. Among the compounds belonging to PFASs, only four are detected in the biological material. The PFOS is the dominant representative of this group in the blood samples. It constitutes approximately 75% of the total PFASs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mercury occurs naturally in environment; thus, retention of fossil fuels used as feedstock in petrochemical plants is commonly found. The purpose of this study was to assess mercury health risks among petrochemical workers. Methods: In all, 188 operators and 30 office workers were recruited from 3 petrochemical plants. A total of 83 and 56 air samples were collected during normal working days and turnaround (TA) periods, respectively. Three main meals over 5 consecutive days, drinking water and spot urine samples were collected. Demographics and lifestyle data were collected using questionnaires. USEPA guidelines for mercury health risks were applied. Results: The inhalation exposure during normal working days of the two groups was lower than 5% of the Threshold Limit Value (TLV), but during TA some operators' exposure exceeded the TLV. The average urinary mercury concentrations of the two groups did not significantly differ. The mercury concentration in the water samples was undetected and did not differ in the food samples of the two groups. Sixty-six operators presented a hazard quotient, HQinh greater than 0.2, but none of office staff, and 98 of 218 participants had hazard index, HI >1. Conclusion: Unacceptable mercury health risk among the petrochemical worker mostly cause by mercury in cooked food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to identify factors associated with dermal exposure to cypermethrin and assess the health risks among young children in an agricultural community in Thailand. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with the parents/caregivers of 58 children (aged 1-3 years). Wipe samples were analyzed for cypermethrin by gas chromatography-microelectron capture detection (GC-µECD). Health risk assessments were based on the cypermethrin concentration on the children's hands and feet. Spearman's correlation indicated significant associations among cypermethrin concentrations on the hands, feet, floors/wooden beds, and toys (rho = 0.438-0.613, p-value <0.001). Cypermethrin concentrations on the hands were significantly and inversely correlated with the child's caregiver being the child's mother and insecticide use (p < 0.01). Concentrations on the feet were significantly correlated with insecticide use (p < 0.05) and showering (p < 0.01). The hazard quotient calculated from dermal exposure via the hands and feet showed no risk for potential noncarcinogenic effects (5.586 x 10-5 in the dry season and 4.301 x 10-4 in the wet season). These findings suggest that young children might not be at risk for cypermethrin exposure through the dermal route. Residential exposure among young children may be reduced by improved hygiene. Health risk assessments of environmental insecticide exposure via the oral and inhalation routes require further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess the relationship between pesticide exposures and testosterone levels in 133 male Thai farmers. Urine and serum samples were collected concurrently from participants. Urine was analyzed for levels of specific and nonspecific metabolites of organophosphates (OPs), pyrethroids, select herbicides, and fungicides. Serum was analyzed for total and free testosterone. Linear regression analyses revealed significant negative relationships between total testosterone and the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) after controlling for covariates (eg, age, BMI, smoking status). Positive significant associations were found between some OP pesticides and total testosterone. Due to the small sample size and the observational nature of the study, future investigation is needed to confirm our results and to elucidate the biological mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic, a known human carcinogen, occurs naturally in groundwater in New Jersey and many other states and countries. A number of municipalities in the Piedmont, Highlands, and Valley and Ridge Physiographic Provinces of New Jersey have a high proportion of wells that exceed the New Jersey maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 5 µg/L. Hopewell Township, located in Mercer County and the Piedmont Province, has a progressive local ordinance which requires the installation of dual-tank, point-of-entry treatment systems on affected wells. This provided a unique study opportunity. Of the 55 homes with dual-tank POE treatment systems recruited into this study, 51 homes (93%) had arsenic levels under the MCL at the kitchen sink, regardless of years in service and/or maintenance schedule adherence. Based on the study participants’ water consumption and arsenic concentrations, we estimate that Hopewell's arsenic water treatment ordinance, requiring POE dual-tank arsenic treatment, reduced the incidence of excess lifetime (70-year) bladder and lung cancers from 121 (1.7 cancer cases/year) to 16 (0.2 cancer cases/year) preventing 105 lifetime cancer cases (1.5 cases/year). Because the high risk of cancer from arsenic can be mitigated with effective arsenic water treatment systems, this ordinance should be considered a model for other municipalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bird eggs can often be used as a bioindicator of potential effects in environment pollutions. Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) lays the eggs around wastewater treatment ponds, Khon Kaen University. The aim of this study is to determine the contamination level of Hg, Pb, Cd, Cr, and Cu in egg content, eggshell and to relate hatching success. Fifteen eggs, four sludge samples, and wastewater samples were collected during September 2016 to April 2017 and were digested and determined using ICP-MS. Clutch size was 1–6 eggs and the weight, width, and length of eggs (mean ± SD) were 11.64 ± 0.91 g., 24.96 ± 0.85 mm, 35.05 ± 1.32 mm, respectively. Hatching success (n= 15) was 96.7%. Cu and Pb were detected at low level in wastewater, and five heavy metals were contaminated in sludge samples. Cu> Cr> Pb> Hg were detected in egg samples (n= 15), and all concentrations in egg content were more than in eggshell. Cr, Cu, Pb, and Hg concentration were not correlated between eggshell and egg content. This study indicated that the heavy metals can be contaminated in sediment, wastewater and can be transferred to egg of Little Grebes. These suggest the ecological risk of heavy metals on other long-living vertebrates living in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Crude oil and natural gas are often contaminated with arsenic. As a carcinogen, arsenic contamination in the workplace is of concern, particularly when urinary arsenic levels are higher than the standard. The aim of this study was to identify exposure sources of arsenic among petrochemical workers.Methods: A total of 188 operators and 30 office workers participated in the study. Ninety-three workplace air samples, three main meals in five consecutive days, and drinking water were collected from each participant. Urine was collected at the end of the day after the last food sample was collected from each subject. Urine samples where arsenic concentration exceeded 100 mg/L were further analyzed to identify species.Results: The average arsenic concentrations in operators' and office workers' food and urine were 0.55 ± 1.00 and 0.49 ± 0.67 mg/kg; and 76.43 ± 107.36 and 149.92 ± 200.28 mg/L, respectively. The arsenic concentrations in air and water were well below their standards. The urinary arsenic correlated well with arsenic in the food but not in the air and water.Conclusion: Occupational exposure to arsenic among operators and office workers was lower than 1% TLV (Threshold limit value) and did not differ significantly. The major source of arsenic exposure Q2 was food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of synthetic glucocorticosteroids (GCs) in surface water and their potential endocrine disruption (ED) activity at environmental concentrations has not been fully investigated. Synthetic GCs may interfere with endogenous receptors within the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis and disruptions of this pathway can result in decreased reproduction and/or adverse developmental effects. Betamethasone, a synthetic GC, has been on the market in the United States since the 1980's. The Pharmaceutical Assessment and Transport Evaluation model estimated betamethasone concentrations to be <0.6 ng/L in 95% of all U.S. surface waters. Concentrations of 0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 µg betamethasone/L were used in a two-generation fish full life cycle study with Japanese medaka. Gross endpoints, secondary sexual characteristics, and vitellogenin expression were evaluated. The highest concentration at which ED outcomes are not anticipated was determined to be 0.1 µg/L. The ratio of the predicted environmental concentration to the no effect concentration for ED is less than one, indicating no risk to aquatic life from environmentally relevant concentrations of betamethasone. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the concentrations of toxic metals in the edible portion of fish tissue obtained from the Raritan River in New Brunswick, New Jersey (NJ) between April and May of 2014. Species collected for this study included commonly caught fish such as bluegill, small and large mouth bass, brown and rainbow trout, bullhead catfish, and white perch. Samples were filleted and the muscle tissue subsequently dehydrated and then chemically digested. Samples were analyzed using Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Levels of 28 different metals were quantified for each specimen. In general, metal contamination in fish tissues was below the recommended limits. However, lead was found in one sample at a tissue concentration of 88 µg per 225 g fillet, which is above the recommended daily consumption limit as set by the Food and Safety Authority of Ireland. The maximum level found for arsenic was 23 µg per 225 g fillet. The fish samples taken from the Raritan River in New Brunswick, NJ for this study did not contain dangerous levels of most of the metals tested. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article focuses on the aspects of theatrical actors performing animal characters reflecting on the adapted theatrical performance "Kafka's Monkey," scripted by Colin Teevan and narrative by Franz Kafka. Topics discussed include the feature of the performances performed by various artists such as Kathryn Hunter, the aspects of the performance's interaction with the audience members, and the influence of Kafka on practitioners and individuals who theorised theater.

David Greig's work has been characterized by an attention to issues of identity: personal, political, and national. The complexities surrounding identification both of and with something or someone are explicitly explored in plays such as Europe (1994) or Damascus (2007) but also run through other plays. Such complexity is frequently mirrored in his approach to dramatic form. This article begins from Greig's quotation of some lines from Jacques Derrida's The Other Heading (1992) in order to work through some of the ways in which Greig's thinking on identification, naming, and imagination may be interwoven with Derrida's questioning of the who and the what of 'European' identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronic cigarettes, battery-powered nicotine delivery devices, have been increasingly used in the past decade. This critical review provides a qualitative research synthesis of the human health risks associated with E-vapor inhalation in the peer-reviewed literature and our own preliminary experimental results. E-cigarettes may be as efficient as traditional cigarettes in nicotine delivery, especially for experienced users, and studies suggest lower emissions of air toxics from E-cigarette vapor and lower second- and third-hand vapor exposures. Some toxic emissions may however surpass those of traditional cigarettes, especially under high voltage vaping conditions. Experimentally, E-vapor/E-liquid exposures reduce cell viability and promote pro-inflammatory cytokine release. User vulnerability to concomitant environmental agent exposures, such as viruses and bacteria, may potentially be increased. While evidence to date suggests that E-cigarettes release fewer toxins and carcinogens compared to cigarettes, E-vapor is not safe and might adversely affect human immune functions. Major knowledge gaps hinder risk quantification and effective regulation of E-cigarette products including: lack of long-term exposure studies, lack of understanding of biological mechanisms associated with exposure, and lack of integration of exposure and toxicity assessments. Better data are needed to inform human health risk assessments and understand the public health impact of E-vapor exposures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black flies are a perennial pest problem in New Jersey, and paramount among them are theS. jenningsigroup species. Pollution tolerance values are reported for the 39 species of black flies known in New Jersey. Morphologically similar species were identified chromosomally to ensure accurate identification. Species of the same genus varied markedly in tolerance values, questioning the accuracy of generic-level tolerance values for the Simuliidae. An index for predicting the colonization and spread in New Jersey of theSimulium jenningsigroup, which includes the major pest species of black flies in the eastern United States, is proposed, with implications for control programs worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Surface water in New Jersey is used by many residential drinking water facilities. Like many water sources it is contaminated by upstream industrial and residential sources, including pharmaceutical residues. This research examines the concentrations of 18 pharmaceuticals in 30 New Jersey locations, their acceptable daily exposures (ADE), and potential drug–drug interactions (DDI). The surface water data was provided by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). ADEs for human health were set for each pharmaceutical in the study. The pharmaceuticals were evaluated for known adverse health interactions and their potential health impact. These factors were brought together using a cumulative hazard index (HI) risk assessment calculation to assess the overall risk of pharmaceuticals in NJ surface water to human health. When examining the potential for DDI in this assessment, the risk increased but not appreciably. The HI for the sample locations ranged from <0.00001 to 0.01 with the DDI adding less than 1.2× increase to the overall risk. The calculated risk of these mixtures was also increased to an extreme DDI of 7 times per interaction. A noticeable increase in the calculated risk was seen, but in no cases did it reach a level of concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organophosphate pesticides (OPs) are widely used in agricultural sectors in Thailand. Previous studies have documented that children residing in agricultural areas have higher exposure to OPs than children living in other residential areas. The objective of this study was to quantify urinary biomarkers of OP exposure and determine the environmental conditions and activities that predict their levels among children living in Central Thailand farming regions. In October 2011, 53 6–8-year-old participants were recruited from Pathum Thani Province, Thailand. Twenty-four lived in rice farming communities at Khlong Luang District where OPs are the pesticides used frequently. Twenty-nine participants, living in aquacultural farming communities at Lum Luk Ka District where OPs are not used, were recruited to serve as controls for pathways of exposure (e.g., residential, dietary) other than occupational/paraoccupational exposures encountered in rice farming. Household environments and participants’ activities were assessed using a parental structured interview. Urine samples (first morning voids) were collected from participants for OP urinary metabolite (i.e., dialkylphosphates [DAPs] and 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol [TCPy]) measurements. The levels of most urinary OP metabolites were significantly higher in participants who lived in a rice farming community than those who lived in an aquacultural farming community (P< .05). The results from linear regression analysis revealed that the frequency of OP application on rice farms (∑DAP:P= .001; TCPy:P= .001) and living in a rice farming community (∑DAP:P= .009; TCPy:P< .001) were significant predictors of urinary DAP metabolite levels in participants. Increasing TCPy levels were significantly related to proximity to rice farm (P= .03), being with parent while working on a farm (P= .02), playing on a farm (P= .03), and the presence of observable dirt accumulated on the child’s body (P= .02). In conclusion, OP metabolite levels among children who live in rice farming communities were strongly influenced by farming activity, household environments, and child behaviors, suggesting that these are the primary pathways in which children living in these agricultural communities in Thailand were exposed to OPs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

To date, pesticides, especially organophosphate pesticide such as chlorpyrifos, have been frequently applied to paddy fields over time to maintain product quality, protect agricultural crops from various pests, and increase yield. This study evaluates dermal exposure to chlorpyrifos in rice farmers along with providing a health risk assessment. Thirty-five rice farmers participated and completed an in-person interview, and patch technique was used to evaluate dermal exposure to chlorpyrifos. The chlorpyrifos residue was extracted from the gauze patches and quantified by gas chromatography equipped with flame photometric detector (GC-FPD). The results showed that chlorpyrifos concentrations were greater in males (526.34 ± 478.84 mg/kg) than females (500.75 ± 595.15 mg/kg). Average daily dose sampled from seven points on male and female farmers were 31.72 × 10−4, 193.32 × 10−4, 5.38 × 10−4, 190.48 × 10−4, 170.47 × 10−4, 465.91 × 10−4, and 43.04 × 10−4mg/kg-day. The hazard quotient (HQ) at the mean and 95th percentile level was found to be greater than acceptable (HQ > 1). Rice-growing farmers in this area may be at risk for adverse health effects due to continuous dermal exposure to chlorpyrifos from their improper use of personal protective equipment (PPE). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hua-ruea sub-district has long been a major agricultural area of Thailand. Shallow groundwater from farm wells is a main source of drinking water for most locals. This study assessed the human health hazards associated with consuming groundwater contaminated with heavy metals among adults age 15–60 years and the aging, greater than 60 years. Twelve groundwater wells were sampled in the Hua-ruea agricultural area. The results showed adults’ average groundwater consumption was high at 3.6 ± 2.1 L/day/person and for the aging group was 2.6 ± 1.0 L/day/person. The hazard quotients for As, Cu, Pb, and Zn exceeded 1 among both the adult and aging populations. Residents of the Hua-ruea subdistrict may be at risk of developing diseases from consumption of water contaminated with these four metals at seven of the 12 wells. These wells are located in intensely cultivated chili fields. All non-carcinogenic hazards of all heavy metals were higher in adults than for the aging population due to a higher intake rate of water by the former. One well had the highest hazard index, 91.8 and 66.2 for adults and the aging, respectively. This study suggested that local people living in intensively agricultural areas should take precautions before drinking contaminated groundwater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) are ubiquitous environmental toxicants, present in high concentrations in numerous consumer products. We hypothesized that maternal exposure to phthalates and BPA in pregnancy is associated with shortened gestation. Methods : Urinary phthalate and BPA metabolites from 72 pregnant women were measured at the last obstetric clinic visit prior to delivery. Using linear regression models, we estimated the change in gestational age associated with each interquartile range (IQR) increase in phthalate and BPA metabolite concentration. Results: IQR increases in urinary mono(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP) and BPA concentrations were associated with 4.2 and 1.1 d decreases in gestation, respectively. When stratified by gender, these alterations were found only in male infants. Conclusions: We conclude that MEHHP and BPA (free + glucuronide) are associated with reductions in gestation, with effects observed only in males. Our findings are consistent with the idea that these agents induce gender-specific alterations in signaling via PPAR-γ transcription factor, androgen precursors and/or inflammatory mediators during the initiation of labor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Total arsenic in urine is often the principal means for assessing chronic exposure to arsenic-contaminated drinking water. This approach ignores many components of the human diet, especially fish and seafood that contain arsenic at significant concentrations. The toxicity differences between the inorganic forms and the dietary forms suggest both should be evaluated when attempting to assess risk from arsenic exposure. Urine biomonitoring for 53 participants was used to confirm reduction in arsenic exposure resulting from well water remediation removing inorganic arsenic from drinking water. Initially, only total arsenic urine assays were performed, but spikes in total arsenic urine concentrations were determined to be diet related and demonstrated the need for analytical methods that differentiate the arsenic species. A secondary analysis was added that quantified inorganic-related arsenic in urine and the dietary forms related to fish and seafood by subtraction from total arsenic. Significant differences were found between the inorganic arsenic component and the total arsenic measured in their urine. On average, approximately 76% of total arsenic in urine was attributed to fish and other organo-arsenic dietary sources, implying a potential significant overestimate of exposure, and demonstrating the need for differentiation of the inorganic-related arsenic from dietary arsenic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recorded conversations between women undergoing BRCA genetic counseling with clinicians (N = 16) and follow-up consultation letters (N = 16) were analyzed to determine how and when communicating genetic risk information to women's adolescent daughters is discussed. Themes from conversations included mothers’ worries about their daughters, perceptions of their daughters’ coping, educational information, and clinicians’ willingness or reluctance to communicate directly with daughters about their genetic risk. Letters referred to daughters when informing mothers about autosomal dominant inheritance patterns, psychosocial considerations, and screening recommendations. Results inform the value of educating mothers about how they might discuss these issues with their adolescent daughters. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study explores the importance of information complexity and how it constrains interactive public involvement in forest management planning in Ontario, Canada. Our data was collected using five approaches: (a) content analysis of independent forest audits from 57 public forest units; (b) content analysis of self evaluated reports of effectiveness by 35 of 40 forest stakeholder advisory committees; (c) face to face interviews with 15 current and former members of committees and information-session participants; (d) brief conversations with 7 participants at an information session; and (e) telephone interviews with 25 individuals with an interest in forest management planning. Our results indicate that concern about the complexity of information was one of the most frequently mentioned unsolicited issues in four data sources. We discuss these findings, present participants' solutions, provide recommendations for presenting complex information, and reflect on the overall limitations of information complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pesticides, ammonia, and sanitizers, all used in agricultural production present ongoing risks for exposed workers. Pesticides continue to poison workers despite elimination of some of the most toxic older products. Obligatory reporting of pesticide poisonings exists in 30 states and surveillance of poisoning occurs in only 12. Estimates of poisoning numbers have been based on sampling but funding for this is scant and in constant jeopardy. There appears to be a downward trend in poisonings nationally based on SENSOR data. Newer more pest-specific pesticides are generally less toxic and present less health risks but may have unpredicted health effects in humans that may not emerge until used widely. Internationally, older cheaper chemicals continue to be used with serious consequences in many developing countries. Monitoring workers for overexposure to pesticides broadly is impractical with the exception of the cholinesterase inhibitors. We can learn much from monitoring systems. Unfortunately, monitoring tools are economically inaccessible for most other chemical groups. New technologies for toxicity testing will necessitate new biomonitoring tools that should be supplied by the producers of these chemicals and made available for protecting worker and the public. Protection of workers from pesticides is primarily based on personal protective equipment use, which presents significant hardship for workers in hot environments and is generally considered the least effective approach on the hierarchy of controls in worker protection. Isolation through the use of closed systems has been employed, though rarely studied as to effectiveness in field use. Substitution or replacing harmful substances with safer ones is underway as more pest specific chemicals enter the pesticide portfolio and older ones drop out. This paper summarizes the panel presentation, “Minimizing Exposures to Pesticides and Other Chemicals,” at the Agricultural Safety and Health Council of America/National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health conference, “Be Safe, Be Profitable: Protecting Workers in Agriculture,” Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, January 27-28, 2010. The panel presented several different aspects of agrochemicals and health. The discussion aimed at identifying important practical opportunities to begin to decrease agricultural worker overexposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of spatial simulation models in public participation processes through multiple facilitated group sessions is explored in northern Ontario, Canada. Participants evaluated the acceptability of an agent-based model of recreational fishing while working through hypothetical management scenarios. Four main concepts are linked to acceptability: credibility, comprehensiveness, comprehension, and utility. These concepts were generally consistent across sessions. However, differences were observed in themes related to the concepts for some contexts. Consequently, recreation researchers and managers who want to use spatial simulation models with various publics should focus not only on the model's content and display of information but also on how the model is communicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gestational exposure to pesticides may adversely affect fetal development and birth outcomes. However, data on fetal exposure and associated health effects in newborns remain sparse. We measured a variety of pesticides and metabolites in maternal urine, maternal serum, cord serum, amniotic fluid, and meconium samples collected at the time of cesarean delivery from 150 women in central New Jersey, USA. Women who used pesticides at home had higher concentrations of pesticides or metabolites in cord serum [e.g., dacthal (p = .007), diethyltoluamide (p = .043), and phthalimide (p = .030)] than those who did not use pesticides, suggesting that residential use of pesticides may contribute to overall exposure as assessed by biomonitoring. Except for orthophenylphenol, the concentrations of most pesticides in biological matrices of this study population were either comparable to or lower than the levels reported in previous studies and in the U.S. general population. The daily exposure estimates of two representative organophosphorus insecticides (chlorpyrifos and diazinon) were lower than most regulatory protection limits (USEPA oral benchmark dose10/100, USEPA reference oral dose, or ATSDR minimal risk levels); however, they were near or at the USEPA's population-adjusted doses for children and women. No abnormal birth outcomes or other clinical endpoints were noted in those newborns who had higher concentrations of orthophenylphenol during the perinatal period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates a new decontamination technique for the mitigation and abatement of hazardous particulates. The traditional decontamination methods used to clean facilities and equipment are time-consuming, prolonging workers' exposure time, may generate airborne hazards, and can be expensive. The use of removable thin film coating as a decontamination technique for surface contamination proved to be a more efficient method of decontamination. This method was tested at three different sites on different hazardous metals. One application of the coating reduced the levels of these metals 90% and had an average reduction of one magnitude. The paired t-tests that were performed for each metal demonstrated that there was a statistically significant reduction of the metal after the use of the coating: lead (p = 0.03), beryllium (p = 0.05), aluminum (p = 0.006), iron (p = 0.0001), and copper (p = 0.004). The Kendall tau-b correlation coefficient demonstrates that there was a positive correlation between the initial levels of contamination and the removal efficiency for all the samples taken from different locations on the floor for each of the three sites. This new decontamination technique worked efficiently, requiring only one application, which decreased exposure time and did not generate any airborne dust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the conception of Jacques Derrida and Jacques Rancière on the relationship of democracy and literature. According to Derrida, there is no democracy without literature and no literature without democracy. In his book "Hatred of Democracy," Rancière argues that democracy undermines democracy to the extent to which formal democracy opens itself to the indifference to democracy that characterizes democratic life.

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) used in agriculture and for public health purposes were banned in Thailand over the past decade; however, their persistent residues have been found in several agricultural areas of the country. This may result in adverse effects to human populations. This study investigated the concentration of organochlorine pesticides residues (OCPRs) in surface water and evaluated the potential cancer risk associated with dermal contact of the local fisherman fishing in the Khlong 7 canal, Rangsit agricultural area, central Thailand. Water samples were extracted using liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) and then analyzed by gas chromatography with microelectron capture detector (μ -ECD). The results show that low concentrations of OCPRs were detected in parts per billion (ppb or ng/ml) levels, that is, ∑ Endosulfan (α-, β-, and -sulfate) 0.082 ng/ml > DDT and derivatives 0.019 ng/ml > ∑ HCH (α-, γ -, β-, and δ -HCH) 0.014 ng/ml > aldrin and dieldrin 0.007 ng/ml > heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide 0.0068 ng/ml > endrin and endrin aldehyde 0.005 ng/ml > methoxychlor 0.001 ng/ml, respectively. Using the worst-case scenario defined as the reasonable maximum exposure (RME) to assess the potential cancer risk, five OCPs (dieldrin, 4,4' -DDT, β-HCH, heptachlor, and heptachlor epoxide) may pose a risk of concern on a lifetime human carcinogenesis greater than one in a million. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phthalates are known reproductive and developmental toxicants in experimental animals. However, in humans, there are few data on the exposure of pregnant women that can be used to assess the potential developmental exposure experienced by the fetus. We measured several phthalate metabolites in maternal urine, maternal serum, and cord serum samples collected at the time of delivery from 150 pregnant women from central New Jersey. The urinary concentrations of most metabolites were comparable to or less than among the U.S. general population, except for mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), mono(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP), and mono(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP), three metabolites of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). The median urinary concentrations of MEHHP (109 μg/l) and MEOHP (95.1 μg/l) were more than 5 times their population-based concentrations, whereas the median urinary concentration of MEHP was more than 20 times higher. High concentration of MEHP may indicate a recent exposure to the parent chemical DEHP in the hospital shortly before the collection of the samples. Calculation of daily intakes using the urinary biomarker data reveals that none of the pregnant women tested had integrated exposures to DEHP greater than the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry's minimal risk levels (MRLs chronic 60, intermediate 100 μg/kg/day). No abnormal birth outcomes (e.g., birth weight, Apgar Score, and gestational age) were noted in those newborns whose mothers had relatively greater exposure to DEHP during the perinatal period than others in this study. Significantly greater concentrations and detection frequencies in maternal urine than in maternal serum and cord serum suggest that the urinary concentrations of the phthalate metabolites may be more reliable biomarkers of exposure than their concentrations in other biological specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Risk assessments were conducted for N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET), triclosan, and acetaminophen to evaluate the risk from exposure to trace levels of these chemicals through drinking water consumption. We estimated exposure to these chemicals through drinking water consumption by generating distributions for key exposure parameters using Monte Carlo analysis. Body weight and water consumption was modeled using data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Exposure Factor Handbook. Water concentrations were derived from reported concentrations in streams. Dose-response was evaluated through extensive literature searches for toxicology data for each chemical. Acceptable daily intakes (ADIs) were then derived from the available toxicology data. The exposure distributions were compared to the ADIs to evaluate the potential risk to the population from drinking water exposure. ADIs of 0.100, 0.153, and 0.05 mg/kg-day were derived for DEET, acetaminophen and triclosan, respectively. The maximum estimated exposures (0.082, 0.834, and 0.193 μ g/kg/day for DEET, acetaminophen, and triclosan, respectively) were at least 100-fold lower than the corresponding ADIs. Based on these assessments, we conclude that there is minimal risk to human health from exposure to these chemicals at the reported concentrations in U.S. streams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research suggests that Spanish-speaking parents and residents of areas with large Hispanic and Latino populations are likely to underutilize the assistance that is available through poison control centers (PCCs). In order to examine any real and perceived barriers to utilization of the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System (NJPIES), the only poison control center in the state, an intercept survey was conducted with self-identified Hispanics/Latinos at Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) centers and in nearby grocery stores, bus stops, and public laundromats. Only 38% of the study sample ( n = 206) had heard of NJPIES. Common ways to have heard of NJPIES included school or church bulletins, family members, and friends. Twenty-three percent knew the NJPIES's toll-free phone number; 23% knew it was available 24 h per day; and 22% knew that Spanish-speaking personnel were available for assistance. Potential barriers to utilization included not knowing the phone number of the poison center, not speaking English, and not knowing if the poison center could offer any help. Respondent-recommended strategies for increasing awareness of NJPIES among Hispanics/Latinos included advertising on TV, and distributing information through school and church bulletins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents the essay "Shakespeare's Words of the Future: Promising Richard III," by Mark Robson; Proposition that a reading of Shakespeare's "Richard III" offers a way into the debates around anachrony as they are primarily configured in early modern studies; Reading that will sketch the analysis that the play stages of promising; Reading that emphasize frequently overlooked aspects of the play; Remobilization of the critical or intellectual reception of promising; Kind of future that the promise gives access to; Suggestion on what might the promise tell us about our relationship to the past.

The concentrations of trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids, disinfection by-products (DBPs) of chlorine, were measured in sandy bottom swimming areas to determine their potential impact on surface and ground water that are sources of drinking water. Total trihalomethanes and individual haloacetic acid concentrations in several swimming area samples were higher than the drinking water standards (current and proposed). Individual trihalomethanes (except bromoform) also exceeded ground and surface water release standards. No release standard exists for haloacetic acids. The DBPs, while exceeding standards, would be diluted by the ground water and microbially degraded prior to reaching the drinking water plant. So while DBPs from swimming areas contributed to groundwater concentrations, the current drinking water standards could still be met using source waters impacted by chlorinated swimming areas. It is suggested, though, that any release of chlorinated DBPs to surface and ground water be minimized to obtain the highest quality water sources for drinking water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The election of the Conservative Government in the UK in 1979 has brought several major changes in tax policy which have sought to encourage private charitable giving, at the same time as tax rates have been reduced dramatically. We examine the effect of these changes on independent schools. Although the schools' special exemption from VAT is far more important than their relief from the direct taxes which follows from charitable status, they are likely to have suffered significantly from the latest tax cuts. Government subsidies to private schools through general concessions to charities are likely to decrease further in importance, and be replaced by more direct, targeted support through grants and particular special schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]