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International audience; The determination of the tire-rim interface loadings is a difficult but key task for the aircraft wheel designer to predict the wheel service life. In conjunction with an optimal parameterization of these loadings previously defined by the authors, the optimal sensor placement problem is considered to identify the loading parameters at best. An optimization procedure of the wheel instrumentation, which consists of several strain gauges, is thus proposed to minimize the uncertainties of the sought parameters during the identification process. Two criteria are reviewed, namely, the determinant and the lowest eigenvalue of the Fisher information matrix, and different optimization procedures are assessed. The effectiveness of the method is proven considering the identification of an inflation case. The optimized instrumentations lead to drastically reduced uncertainties of the loading parameters and thus ensure reliable inverse identifications

Under Swiss competition law, horizontal and vertical agreements that qualify as hard-core restrictions on competition are only unlawful if they “significantly restrict competition”. The question of how to assess the significance of restriction on competition—the so-called significance test—has been subject to highly controversial competition law practice and scholarly literature. This article outlines the previous practice of the Swiss Competition Commission (ComCo) and the recent precedent Elmex of the Swiss Federal Tribunal related to the significance test in cases of hard-core restrictions. In a second step, the article examines the consequences of the latest Elmex-decision with regard to the de minimis exception. The article analyses the question as to whether hard-core restrictions are unlawful by nature, or whether there is any leeway to consider insignificant price-fixing agreements or agreements restricting passive sales into Switzerland as lawful. This question is particularly important with regard to international distribution agreements, which frequently contain clauses that limit the seller or retailer to a specific geographic sales area. Following the Elmex-decision, such clauses may, by their nature, constitute a violation of Swiss antitrust law subject to substantial fines.

Discipline Clinique. Introduction et but de l’etude En reanimation, la gestion de la nutrition enterale (NE) est complexe car de nombreux facteurs contribuent souvent a l’instauration d’un deficit energetique et proteique tout au long du sejour des patients. L’objectif de l’etude a ete de confronter nos pratiques professionnelles au protocole de nutrition enterale en vigueur en reanimation adulte et de comparer les apports en energie et en proteines reellement administres avec les recommandations des societes savantes. Materiel et methodes Etude prospective, observationnelle, menee dans le service de reanimation de l’etablissement durant 6 mois. Population etudiee : 39 patients (n F, n H, âge moyen IMC moyen) sur un total de 215 patients admis, pris en charge par la dieteticienne dans les 24 premieres heures et pour lesquels une NE est prescrite ou susceptible de l’etre au cours sejour, en complement ou non d’une autre nutrition. Les besoins energetiques et proteiques de chaque patient sont calcules a partir du referentiel de nutrition artificielle en reanimation. Resultats et analyse statistique Au total, 79 % des patients recoivent une NE au cours des 24 heures suivant leur admission. Il existe un ecart quotidien entre ce qui est prescrit et reellement administre au patient. Si le 1er jour, seule 36 % de la quantite prescrite est administree, cette difference s’estompe au fils du sejour bien qu’elle reste de l’ordre de 10 % en moyenne. La comparaison entre les apports moyens quotidiens par patient en energie et en proteines avec les apports recommandes montre qu’un apport supplementaire de 630 kcal/jour et 46 g de proteines est necessaire pour couvrir les besoins patients. Le bilan cumule en energie et proteines illustre l’evolution des deficits et met en exergue des deficits croissants des le 3e jour et qui doublent presque entre j3 et j15. Conclusion Cette etude nous a permis de mettre en evidence des differences importantes entre les apports proteino-energetiques et la cible recommandee, ceci des le debut de la prise en charge. A partir de ces constats des mesures d’amelioration ont ete mises en place, en particulier l’individualisation des apports nutritionnels, la necessite de faire evoluer notre protocole de NE de reanimation pour atteindre les cibles sous 48 heures ainsi que de viser la fourchette haute de la cible nutritionnelle recommandee [1] , [2] .

Discipline Epidemiologie. Introduction et but de l’etude Les donnees epidemiologiques concernant la NPD en France sont meconnues et peu precises. L’arrete de 2014 [1] imposant une prestation pour toute NPD, avec plusieurs forfaits de prise en charge correspondant a des codes de la liste des produits et prestations (LPP), permet actuellement d’obtenir des donnees fiables. Materiel et methodes Selon la methode utilisee pour les donnees epidemiologiques de nutrition enterale a domicile (NED) [2] et a l’aide des codes de LPP et des donnees des affections de longue duree (ALD), il a ete demande aux directions regionales du service medical de l’assurance maladie (DRSM) de l’ensemble du territoire de communiquer : – le nombre de nouveaux patients pris en charge en NPD en 2016 (ce qui a ete rapporte a la population permet le calcul de l’incidence) ; – le nombre total de patients pris en charge en NPD en 2016 (pour le calcul de la prevalence) ; – de croiser ces resultats avec les fichiers d’ALD. Les patients ont ete regroupes en 3 tranches d’âge (15 a 39 ans, 40 a 65 ans et > 65 ans) et en 5 categories (cancerologie, neurologie, maladies intestinales chroniques inflammatoires (MICI), insuffisance d’organe, autres). Resultats et analyse statistique Cinq DRSM ont actuellement repondu (Auvergne–Rhone Alpes, Centre, Hauts de France, Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur – Corse, Reunion) correspondant a une population totale de 14 577 618 personnes ( Tableau 1 ). Conclusion Cette etude effectuee sur une population de pres de 15 millions d’habitants de plus de 15 ans retrouve en 2016 une incidence annuelle moyenne de la NPD chez l’adulte de 25,8/100 000 habitants et une prevalence moyenne globale de 33,4/100 000 habitants. La prevalence moyenne de NPD > 12 semaines est de 10,4/100 000 habitants. A partir de ces donnees, une estimation nationale de prevalence en France (59 millions habitants > 15 ans) serait d’environ 19 700 patients adultes/an pris en charge en NPD dont 6100 pendant plus de 12 semaines. La cancerologie est la premiere des indications de NPD (85 %). Les MICI sont la seconde cause de NPD dans la tranche d’âge 15 a 39 ans (28 %). Alors que la NPD doit etre reservee a l’insuffisance intestinale [1] , ces donnees evoquent une vraisemblable utilisation excessive de la NPD au depends de la NED notamment en cancerologie.

The principle of non-discrimination constitutes a corner-stone in different fields of international economic law, notably international trade in goods and services as well as intellectual property and investment protection. While its basic rationale appears to be straightforward, the application of the different legal elements which constitute a non-discrimination obligation has proven to be most challenging. Adjudicating bodies have been applying different interpretations and standards with regard to the legal elements of ‘less favourable treatment’, ‘likeness’ and ‘regulatory purpose’, which leads to a high fragmentation of the non-discrimination principle in international economic law. This article maps out the different theories for each of these elements on the examples of WTO law, NAFTA, bilateral investment treaties (BIT) and EU law and analyses how these theories affect the scope and liberalizing effect of the non-discrimination obligation. The article then attempts to develop a coherent factor-based application of non-discrimination rules suitable for all fields of international economic law. The article submits the theory that the elements of non-discrimination should not be applied as strict legal conditions which must be proven by a complainant, but as a range of factors which are weighed and balanced by the adjudicating bodies.

Discipline Clinique. Introduction et but de l’etude Pour le collectif de lutte contre la denutrition, 100 % des patients denutris suivis au domicile apres l’hospitalisation, doivent beneficier de la mise en place d’un parcours de soin nutritionnel coordonne ville–hopital. Ce parcours se heurte actuellement a des difficultes, notamment l’absence de consultation dietetique en ville. Pour optimiser cette prise en charge, le recours a la telemedecine (TLM) dietetique, pourrait etre une piste d’amelioration, avec de nombreux benefices attendus, medicaux, sociaux, economiques. Le but est de concevoir un projet de teleconsultation (TLC) dietetique chez la personne âgee (PA) denutrie apres l’hospitalisation, organisee avec un professionnel de sante (medecin et/ou infirmiere) associe ou non a un aidant, sur un territoire de 110 000 habitants, dont 38 % sont retraites. Materiel et methodes (1) Bibliographie : aspect medico-economique de la denutrition, impact de l’intervention a domicile d’une dieteticienne, resultats d’experiences de telesante en nutrition. (2) Etude du parcours de soin dietetique chez les PA denutries dans l’etablissement. (3) Pistes sur les moyens technologiques, humains et financiers, garantissant le projet, ainsi que son evaluation. (4) Proposition d’un protocole de cooperation permettant a la dieteticienne de realiser legalement un acte TLM avec la delegation d’un medecin referent en nutrition (non soumis a l’ARS). Resultats et analyse statistique (1) Des etudes ont montre un meilleur etat nutritionnel, une diminution de nombre de rehospitalisations, de moindres couts avec l’intervention d’une dieteticienne a domicile. La TLC est aussi efficace qu’en presentiel. Le suivi telephonique dietetique a un impact positif sur la qualite de vie chez la PA denutrie. (2) Diagramme de flux 2017 : 28 400 sejours au total (41 % ≥ 70 ans). Au total, 6013 en Medecine/Chirurgie (hors Reanimation), dont 78 % du domicile via les urgences. Au total, 2402 prises en charge par une dieteticienne, dont 1628 codages E43 et E44 ( = 27 % des sejours Med./Chir., 85 % ≥ 70 ans). Parmi ces derniers, 65 % retournent a domicile dont 29 % via le SSR, ce qui conforte le besoin d’un suivi a domicile, ce que permet la TLC. (3) Pilotage du projet avec le president du CLAN, geriatre referent en nutrition. La creation d’un poste de dieteticienne permettrait d’inclure 200 patients/annee dedie a la TLC. Trois outils technologiques envisages : dossier informatise du patient, portail regional de sante ou carnet de sante en nutrition deploye dans l’obesite au sein d’une UTN, adaptable et accessible a partir d’un smartphone. Ils sont securises, interfacables et disposent de la TLC. Les indicateurs de suivi : etat nutritionnel, rehospitalisations, frequence d’utilisation, satisfaction des utilisateurs, evenements indesirables. (4) Protocole de cooperation : « Depistage, prevention et prise en charge dietetique de la denutrition chez l’adulte via la TLM ». Il vise a deleguer a la dieteticienne l’acte de TLC grâce a ses competences en dietetique, relationnelles et transversales. Conclusion La TLC dietetique serait une opportunite, faute de disponibilite, de sensibilisation et de formation des professionnels a domicile. Elle pourrait faciliter une plus grande cooperation avec la ville, une meilleure qualite des soins avec une remuneration liee au basculement recent des actes de TLC dans un financement de droit commun.

A menudo es mas facil tratar una deformacion compleja del pie que corregir una intervencion quirurgica mal hecha en un dedo. La deformacion de un dedo del pie a menudo se trata con rapidez. Es una deformacion presente en numerosas enfermedades. Un conocimiento adecuado de la deformacion del dedo del pie, con su definicion anatomica exacta, es imprescindible para conseguir un tratamiento razonable. La deformacion de un dedo del pie puede estar causada por una afeccion de una articulacion metatarsofalangica o una interfalangica proximal o distal, pero tambien por una enfermedad tendinosa o sistemica. La hiperqueratosis secundaria a la deformacion, las alteraciones ungueales y las callosidades subungueales son motivos frecuentes de consulta de los pacientes, puesto que plantean problemas para el uso del calzado. Se describiran los tres grandes tipos de deformacion de los dedos del pie; dedo «en garra», dedo «en martillo» y dedo «en cuello de cisne», con su mecanismos de aparicion y sus diversas etiologias idiopaticas, congenitas, inflamatorias, neurologicas y iatrogenicas.

La artrodesis del par de torsion fusiona la articulacion subastragalina, la astragalonavicular y la calcaneocuboidea. Sus indicaciones han aumentado por las secuelas de las fracturas del calcaneo, las deformaciones fijas de la articulacion subastragalina y sus grandes descentraciones. La forma clasica tiende a ser sustituida por artrodesis mas limitadas y de indicaciones mas precisas: subastragalina aislada en la insuficiencia grave del tendon del tibial posterior, astragalonavicular en los reumatismos inflamatorios y calcaneocuboidea de alargamiento en los pies planos valgos estructurados. Tales indicaciones quirurgicas requieren unas vias de acceso mas limitadas que las de la triple artrodesis clasica y un material de osteosintesis adaptado. El mejor conocimiento de la biomecanica del retropie y la nocion de pie astragalino y pie calcaneo permiten la conservacion de la funcion adaptativa del retropie, sobre todo cuando la artrodesis global del par de torsion no es necesaria. La correccion de las deformidades axiales del retropie es indispensable antes de fijar las artrodesis y puede conseguirse con accesos selectivos. La fijacion con osteosintesis de una de las tres articulaciones repercute en la funcion de la articulacion adyacente. La adaptacion del paciente a las artrodesis del par de torsion es lenta, pero el efecto que estas tienen sobre el dolor es muy positivo.

On 10 April 2007, the United States requested consultations with China regarding trading rights for publications and audiovisual products. Following US Gambling, this case is likely to provoke the next clash between free trade and public morals. This article takes an abstract approach to the scope and content of the public morals and public order exceptions in the GATS and the GATT and, given the absence of a public order exception under the GATT, analyzes how these two concepts interrelate with one another. In this regard, the finding in US Gambling that Members should individually define the scope of Article XIV(a) GATS is critically examined, but the article suggests that it deserves support based on an interpretation in accordance with general principles of the law of treaties. Following the identification of instruments that limit the risk for abuse of the morals and order exceptions, the article will turn to the scope-related aspect regarding the justifiability of 'extraterritorial' measures. , Oxford University Press.

Air and biological monitoring were used for assessing external and internal chromium exposure among 116 stainless steel welders (SS welders) using manual metal arc (MMA), metal inert gas (MIG) and tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding processes (MMA: n = 57; MIG: n = 37; TIG: n = 22) and 30 mild steel welders (MS welders) using MMA and MIG welding processes (MMA: n = 14; MIG: n = 16). The levels of atmospheric total chromium were evaluated after personal air monitoring. The mean values for the different groups of SS welders were 201 micrograms/m3 (MMA) and 185 micrograms/m3 (MIG), 52 micrograms/m3 (TIG) and for MS welders 8.1 micrograms/m3 (MMA) and 7.3 micrograms/m3 (MIG). The curve of cumulative frequency distribution from biological monitoring among SS welders showed chromium geometric mean concentrations in whole blood of 3.6 micrograms/l (95th percentile = 19.9), in plasma of 3.3 micrograms/l (95th percentile = 21.0) and in urine samples of 6.2 micrograms/l (95th percentile = 58.0). Among MS welders, mean values in whole blood and plasma were rather more scattered (1.8 micrograms/l, 95th percentile = 9.3 and 1.3 micrograms/l, 95th percentile = 8.4, respectively) and in urine the value was 2.4 micrograms/l (95th percentile = 13.3). The analysis of variance of chromium concentrations in plasma previously showed a metal effect (F = 29.7, P0.001), a process effect (F = 22.2, P0.0001) but no metal-process interaction (F = 1.3, P = 0.25). Concerning urinary chromium concentration, the analysis of variance also showed a metal effect (F = 30, P0.0001), a process effect (F = 72, P0.0001) as well as a metal-process interaction (F = 13.2, P = 0.0004). Throughout the study we noted any significant differences between smokers and non-smokers among welders. Taking in account the relationships between chromium concentrations in whole, plasma or urine and the different welding process. MMA-SS is definitely different from other processes because the biological values are clearly higher. These higher levels are due to the very significant concentrations of total soluble chromium, mainly hexavalent chromium, in welding fumes.

This study is part of a collaborative effort between Montana Tech and the Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO) to find solutions for treating metal contaminated water (e.g., Cu, Zn, Cd, Mn, and Fe) from the Butte Hill as part of the remediation activities for the Clark Fork River Basin, in Southwestern Montana. The field demonstration systems were constructed in 1995 and include anoxic horizontal flow gravel bed wetlands with cattail plants, horizontal flow gravel/organic substrate wetlands with cattail plants, and a vertical upflow gravel/organic substrate system without plants. Flow through operation was started in May 1996 with a total flow into the treatment systems of approximately 100 m{sup 3}/d. Hydraulic residence time for the test cells varies between 1.5 and 10 days. Results from the first year of operation including startup and performance through the winter with respect to hydrology, geochemistry, and microbiology within the test cells are presented. Metal removal efficiencies for the various technologies were determined.

A pilot scale field test on passive treatment systems for metal and sulfate removal from ground water and surface runoff, is being conducted in Butte, Montana. This study is a collaborative effort between Montana Tech and the Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO) to find solutions for treating metal contaminated water (e.g. Cu, Zn, Cd, and Fe). The field demonstration systems include anaerobic horizontal flow gravel bed wetlands with plants, horizontal flow gravel/organic substrate wetlands with plants, and vertical upflow gravel/organic substrate system without plants. The experimental design for sulfate and metal removal will be presented as well as the hydraulic design criteria used. Results from this test will be used to estimate system economics, long term performance and the life expectancy for these systems. Studies on mesoscale passive treatment systems such as 1.5 in high vertical upflow gravel/organic substrate columns are also presented. The parameters describing system performance are: hydraulic conductivity, volumetric sulfate-reduction rate, and metal immobilization rate.

KEY MESSAGES ∙ Trade in services ranks among the most intractable subject matters in modern trade diplomacy. Confronted with such complexity, diversity, learning by doing and fragmentation are key characteristics of the evolving regimes governing services trade. ∙ Fragmentation may represent a source of policy and innovation able to inform and shape future directions in multilateral rule-making. It can also offer alternative theatres of collective action able to yield superior outcomes or more politically palatable bargains than those on offer at the World Trade Organization (WTO) or under preferential trade agreements (PTAs). ∙ The adoption of a necessity test applicable across services sectors and enhanced transparency disciplines would improve the quality of services trade regulation. The absence of a necessity test can devalue regulatory disciplines on domestic regulation. ∙ The immigration law caveat of the GATS Annex on the Temporary Movement of Natural Persons and flexibilities within the structure for scheduling GATS commitments exacerbate the divide between a global labour migration regime favouring high-skilled workers and bilateral, non-trade migration agreements regulating the flows of low-skilled and potentially irregular migrants. This schism prevents progress towards a coherent global governance of migration. ∙ The interpretation of the ‘likeness’ concept in the GATS rules on non-discrimination requires an assessment of the competitive relationship between suppliers and services in the marketplace. As trade in services may involve the movement of suppliers and services, consideration must be given to both service -related and supplier -related factors in order to reach an overall conclusion on the competitive relationship between the types of service transactions under scrutiny. […]

The extent to which market participants are in a competitive relationship constitutes a key element both in competition law and in international economic law. Competition law practice has developed refined economic instruments designed to define relevant markets on the basis of demand substitutability, supply substitutability and potential and future competition. In contrast, many fi elds of international economic law, such as trade and investment protection, fail to assess actual market situations. This article identifi esconceptual differences and similarities between the legal instruments of the two fi elds of law in order to analyse whether competition law theories of defi ning relevant markets could also be applied in international economic law., + ID der Publikation: unilu_11529 + Sprache: Englisch + Letzte Aktualisierung: 2018-06-27 15:41:20

The principle of non-discrimination is fundamental to the regulation of international trade in goods and services. In the context of trade in goods, the concept of 'like products' has become a key element of the legal analysis of whether a trade obstacle violates GATT non-discrimination obligations. The equivalent concept of 'like services and service suppliers' in GATS rules on non-discrimination has received little attention in WTO jurisprudence. In light of the remaining uncertainties, Nicolas Diebold analyses the legal problems of the GATS 'like services and services suppliers' concept using a contextual and comparative methodology. The 'likeness' element is not analysed in isolation, but in context with 'less favourable treatment' and regulatory purpose as additional elements of non-discrimination. The book also explores how far theories from non-discrimination rules in GATT, NAFTA, BITs and EC as well as market definition theories from competition law may be applied to 'likeness' in GATS.

The obligation of non-discrimination constitutes a core principle in many different fields of domestic and international law, such as constitutional law, domestic trade law, human rights, public international law and international economic law. The significance of non-discrimination within the WTO framework is highlighted by the fact that it is embodied in the Preamble to the ‘Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization’, which names the ‘elimination of discriminatory treatment in international trade relations’ as one of the principal means to achieve the objectives related to trade liberalization. In general terms, the non-discrimination principle in international economic law serves a political as well as an economic purpose. From a political perspective, discriminating actions in foreign affairs generally, and in trade relations particularly, provoke considerable tensions in international relations. Discriminating actions entail the unequal treatment of two subjects that are equal or in equal situations – either by granting an advantage or favour to one subject or by imposing a disadvantage or burden on the other subject – and are thus naturally perceived as strongly unfair. Such unfair treatment is likely to be answered with repercussions not necessarily limited to trade, and the situation may spiral into a serious quarrel that could ultimately lead to an armed conflict. The best example for illustrating the link between economic integration and political stabilization is the creation of the EU. In today's public debate about the role and purpose of the EU, it is often forgotten that in the aftermath of World War II, the core concern and motivation for the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in 1951 was to bring stability, prosperity and peace to Europe.

This paper presents the results of a four-year project tackling several issues relating to multilateral and preferential trade in services. One of the underlying organising principles of our research on services trade has been a presumed fault line between the innate coherence that is achieved through multilateral rules and commitments, on the one side, and the more inherently fragmented nature of preferential solutions or rules, on the other. Doubtlessly rooted in the way mainstream trade theorists and economists more broadly have long championed multilateralism over its peripheral brethren, such a perception proceeds from the assumed second-best nature of preferential, or non-WTO-centric, policy and rule-making approaches. Our key messages put forward concrete proposals to improve regulation of services trade. We find, inter alia, that: a) fragmentation is a source of policy and innovation apt to inform multilateral rule-making, while theatres at the periphery may yield superior outcomes or more politically palatable bargains; b) the adoption of a necessity test applicable across services sectors at the multilateral level would improve the quality of services trade regulation domestically; c) the current treatment of labour mobility under GATS is not conducive to an optimal global governance of migration; d) when examing likeness, both service-related and supplier-related factors have to be considered to decide whether there is competitive relationship in the marketplace; e) Overlapping multilateral and bilateral rules on investment blur the rights and obligations of domestic authorities and foreign investors in services; f) co-ordination between the WTO and arbitral panels so that similar principles are intepreted in a uniform manner can lead to a more coherent international investment framework in services.

Objectives: The European Co-ordination on Diesel Soot Exposure (ECDSE) working group organ- ised a laboratory inter-comparison which integrated both the sampling and the analytical determination. The aim was to gain more information on the performance of the methods for the determination of diesel particu- late matter at workplaces and on their comparability, and to also confirm that the requirements of the Euro- pean standard EN 482 are fulfilled for this analytical procedure. Methods: Sampling was carried out in a diesel aerosol test chamber where participants used their own sampling devices. Overall, ten sampling exercises at two different concentration levels were performed and both personal air sampling systems and stationary samplers were used. The analytical determination was performed according to the laboratory's own standard procedure. Results: There was good agreement between the laboratories for the determination of organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC) and total carbon (TC). Almost all the results when expressed as a coefficient of variation were in the range ±30% of the overall means. The results also showed that the coefficient of variation for OC was approximately twice the coefficient of vari- ation for EC. This is not too critical, because existing occupational exposure levels (OELs) are based on the measurement of EC. Conclusions: The inter-comparison showed that existing analytical procedures for the de- termination of diesel particulate matter at workplaces fulfil the requirements of European standard EN 482. Both personal air samplers and stationary samplers give comparable results. The parameters for the ana- lytical determination are not critical within the range of parameter values presented in this article. Additionally, it may be concluded that the diesel aerosol test cham- ber used in this exercise is well suited for producing an atmosphere containing a constant and reproducible level of diesel particulate matter.

International audience; OBJECT: Diesel soot has been recognized as probably carcinogenic to humans. Elemental carbon (also called black carbon) in soot is considered at the moment as the most significant surrogate to be measured for assessing the exposure to this pollutant. Its analysis is done by combustion in an oven and determination of the CO2 formed, after elimination of the organic fraction of the soot by heating and/or by solvent extraction. The analysis allows determination of both fractions of the soot: "elemental carbon" (EC) and organic carbon (OC). The sum of EC and OC is called TC (total carbon). METHOD: An informal European coordination group organized two round robin tests on filter samples collected from diluted diesel emissions. The first round (RRT1) was performed on 13 different samples analyzed by ten laboratories. The range of loading was 2.5 to 150 micrograms/cm2 of EC. No evaluation of the precision within laboratories could be made since each laboratory gave only one result per sample. Therefore a second round (RRT2) was organized with two samples and a blank filter sent in several portions to 11 laboratories. It should be stressed that each laboratory used its own method and that no standardization was planned at this stage. RESULTS: Results of RRT1 showed that the coefficient of variation between laboratories decreased with higher loading and was around 10% to 15% for EC above about 20 micrograms/cm2. Dispersion of the results varied and it appeared that the way OC is removed from the soot is probably the most important factor of influence. The correlation between the laboratories was good as a whole but some systematic differences could be detected. Besides the different techniques to remove the organic carbon, the pretreatment of the filter by HCl (either as a vapor or as a solution) to remove the inorganic carbonates (potential interference sources), is probably also a significant factor of influence in the dispersion of the results between laboratories. It is not yet clear from these results whether the "environmental" laboratories give different results from the "occupational" laboratories, but it is clear that their objectives differ since for the "environmentalists", EC is not a specific marker of diesel emmissions, in contrast to the "occupationalists". CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that, although significant differences exist between laboratories they can be attributed mainly to the narrow distribution of the results within a single laboratory, and that the overall agreement of the results for EC and TC is fairly good. These results obtained with pure diesel engine emissions, should be complemented by field samples, but they have already achieved relevant findings in the performance of the procedures used to assess exposure to diesel soot

OBJECTIVE--To conduct a field study to obtain information on the urinary concentrations of aluminium (Al) and fluoride (F-) depending on the different compounds exposed to in the aluminum industry. METHODS--16 workers from one plant that produced aluminium fluoride (AlF3), and from two plants that produced aluminium electrolytically by two different processes participated in the study for one working week. Pollutants were monitored by eight hour personal sampling every day, and urine samples were collected during the week. Al and F- were analysed in both atmospheric and urine samples by atomic absorption spectrometry and an ion selective electrode. RESULTS--The principal results show different characteristics of kinetic curves of Al and F- excretion in workers with different exposures. Some characteristics of excretory peaks were linked to specific exposures--for instance, after exposure to AlF3 there was one delayed Al peak associated with one delayed F- peak about eight hours after the end of the daily shift, and after mixed exposure to HF and AlF3, two F- peaks were noted, one fast peak at the end of the shift and another delayed peak at 10 hours synchronised with an Al peak. In one of the electrolysis plants, the exposure to Al and F- compounds led to the simultaneous excretion of Al and F- peaks, either as a single peak or two individual ones depending on the type of technology used on site (open or enclosed potlines). The average estimated half life of Al was 7.5 hours, and of F- about nine hours. Quantitative relations between excretion and exposure showed an association between the F- atmospheric limit value of 2.5 mg/m3 with a urinary F- concentration of 6.4 mg/g creatinine at the end of the shift, a peak of 7.4 mg/g creatinine, and 7.4 mg excreted a day. For Al, the exposure to 1.36 mg/m3 during the shift corresponded to a urinary concentration at the end of the shift of 200 microgram/g creatinine. Daily excretion of 200 micrograms corresponded to an exposure to 0.28 mg/m3. CONCLUSION--Particular differences in the behaviour of Al and F- in urine depended upon the original molecular form in the pollutant. These results reinforce the principle that, in biological monitoring, the sampling strategy and the choice of limit value should be dependent on kinetic data that take the exposure compound of the element in question into account.

Two measurement campaigns aimed at measuring the air pollutant emissions of vehicles (carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, lead, benzo[a]pyrene and formaldehyde) have been carried out using on-board sampling or analysis equipment in public buses in two major French towns. The study had a double objective: (i) to assess the occupational exposure through pollutant measurements in the breathing zone of the drivers at their working posts, (ii) to compare the quality of the air sampled outside, either at the bus front (current position of the ventilation air intake), or on the vehicle roof. Carbon monoxide measurements were performed with several Ecolyser (electrochemical detection) standardized with a Mahiak Unor 6N infra-red non-dispersive analyser and nitrogen mono- and dioxide with AC 30 M Environment S.A. analysers (chemiluminescent detection), with a data-logger recording the '5-min weighted average concentrations'. Lead on dust was sampled on cellulose acetate or quartz filters and analysed by atomic absorption, benzo[a]pyrene (as a tracer of polynuclear hydrocarbons) on quartz filters and by HPLC/UV fluorescence detector and formaldehyde (as a tracer of aldehydes) on 2,4-DNPH-impregnated silicagel tubes by HPLC/UV. Recording and sampling were performed for 18 single and return routes in the center of Paris (for 1.5-2 h each) and for 25 routes in the center of Bordeaux (for 35-60 min). The results clearly indicate that the occupational exposures of urban bus drivers for the six pollutants are lower than the exposure limit values in the working place (French Labour Department or A.C.G.I.H. standards). In particular, levels for benzopyrene, associated with carcinogenic hazard, do not increase 5% of the standard from Russian origin (150 ng/m3). On the contrary, concentrations reached the levels recommended by international air quality standards (OMS, US or European standards) for carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and lead. When CO mean concentration values by bus lines in the driver's breathing zone are compared with the measurement results provided for the same sample days by the Air-Parif control network (in Paris), or the Gertrude traffic management system (in Bordeaux), it may be assumed that they are at the level of the most polluted surveillance stations. The CO concentrations are significantly lower in the outdoor air coming from the roof than in that coming from the front of the bus, so that better indoor air quality at the driving post can be found with air intake from an upper than a lower part.