Association of maternal serum concentrations of 2,2', 4,4'5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (CB-153) and 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl)-ethylene (p,p'-DDE) levels with birth weight, gestational age and preterm births in Inuit and European populations

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Epidemiological studies on the association between maternal exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and fetal growth alteration report inconsistent findings which weights in favor of additional studies.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Blood samples were collected from interviewed pregnant women in Greenland (572), Kharkiv (611) and Warsaw (258) and were analyzed for CB-153 and p,p'-DDE by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Data on birth weight, gestational age and preterm birth were obtained for 1322 singleton live births. We examined the association between natural log-transformed serum POPs concentration and birth weight and gestational age using multiple linear regression and the association with prematurity using logistic regression controlling for potential confounding factors.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The median serum concentrations of CB-153 and p,p'-DDE were for Inuit mothers 105.6 and 298.9, for Kharkiv mothers 27.0 and 645.4 and for Warsaw mothers 10.7 and 365.2 ng/g lipids, respectively. Increase in CB-153 concentration by one unit on the log scale in Inuit mothers serum was associated with significant decrease in infant birth weight of -59 g and gestational age by -0.2 week. Decreases observed in the cohorts in Kharkiv (-10 g and -0.1 week) and in Warsaw (-49 g and -0.2 week) were not statistically significant. Increase in p,p'-DDE concentration by one unit on the log scale was associated with a statistically significant decrease in infant birth weight of -39.4 g and -104.3 g and shortening of gestational age of -0.2 week and -0.6 week in the Inuit and Warsaw cohorts, respectively. In the Kharkiv cohort decrease in birth weight (-30.5 g) was not significant, however a shortening of gestational age of -0.2 week per increase in p,p'-DDE concentration by one unit on the log scale was of the borderline significance. There was no significant association between CB-153 and p,p'-DDE concentrations and risk of preterm birth however, in all cohorts the odds ratio was above 1.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p><it>In utero </it>exposure to POPs may reduce birth weight and gestational age of newborns however, new insights as to why results vary across studies were not apparent.</p

Inter-population variations in concentrations, determinants of and correlations between 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (CB-153) and 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl)-ethylene (p,p'-DDE): a cross-sectional study of 3161 men and women from Inuit and European populations

BACKGROUND: The study is part of a collaborative project (Inuendo), aiming to assess the impact of dietary persistent organochlorine pollutants (POPs) on human fertility. The aims with the present study are to analyze inter-population variations in serum concentrations of 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (CB-153) and 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl)-ethylene (p,p'-DDE), to assess inter-population variations in biomarker correlations, and to evaluate the relative impact of different determinants for the inter-individual variations in POP-biomarkers. METHOD: In study populations of 3161 adults, comprising Greenlandic Inuits, Swedish fishermen and their wives, and inhabitants from Warsaw, Poland and Kharkiv, Ukraine, serum concentrations of CB-153 and p,p'-DDE, were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. RESULTS: The median serum concentrations of CB-153 were for male and female Inuits 200 and 110, for Swedish fishermen 190 and their wives 84, for Kharkiv men and women 44 and 27, and for Warsaw men and women 17 and 11 ng/g lipids, respectively. The median serum concentrations of p,p'-DDE were for Kharkiv men and women 930 and 650, for male and female Inuits 560 and 300, for Warsaw men and women 530 and 380, and for Swedish fishermen 240 and their wives 140 ng/g lipids, respectively. The correlation coefficients between CB-153 and p,p'-DDE varied between 0.19 and 0.92, with the highest correlation among Inuits and the lowest among men from Warsaw. Men had averagely higher serum concentrations of CB-153 and p,p'-DDE, and there were positive associations between age and the POP-biomarkers, whereas the associations with BMI and smoking were inconsistent. Dietary seafood was of importance only in the Inuit and Swedish populations. CONCLUSION: CB-153 concentrations were much higher in Inuits and Swedish fishermen's populations than in the populations from Eastern Europe, whereas the pattern was different for p,p'-DDE showing highest concentrations in the Kharkiv population. The correlations between the POP-biomarkers varied considerably between the populations, underlining that exposure sources differ and that the choice of representative biomarkers of overall POP exposure has to be based on an analysis of the specific exposure situation for each population. Age and gender were consistent determinants of serum POPs; seafood was of importance only in the Inuit and Swedish populations

Alkali reactivity of aggregates

W artykule opisano zjawisko reaktywności alkalicznej kruszywa. Opisano rodzaje, mechanizm i objawy reakcji alkalia–kruszywo. Przytoczono wykaz potencjalnie reaktywnych minerałów i skał. Opisano metodykę identyfikowania reaktywności alkalicznej. Przedstawiono aktualny stan zasad badania reaktywności alkalicznej w Polsce.This paper discusses the phenomenon of alkali reactivity of aggregates. The types, mechanism and symptoms of alkali-aggregate reaction are discussed. A potentially reactive minerals and rocks are listed. The methodology for alkali reactivity identifying is discussed. The current state of testing rules for alkali reactivity in Poland is presented

The quality of Polish aggregates

Przedstawiono ogólne informacje o przemyśle kruszyw w Polsce i o bazie zasobowej. Podano podział kruszyw, wymagania i metody badań oraz dokonano porównawczej analizy jakości. Analizie poddano 100 asortymentów kruszyw, wyprodukowanych przez 95. producentów. Kruszywa badano w IMBiGS w latach 2006-2010. Do analizy przyjęto wyniki uzyskane dla frakcji 8/16. Badane kruszywa reprezentowały wszystkie typowe rodzaje kruszyw produkowanych w Polsce. W analizie uwzględniono podstawowe właściwości technologiczne kruszyw, takie jak odporność na rozdrabnianie, odporność na ścieranie, odporność na polerowanie, odporność na ścieranie powierzchniowe, odporność na szok termiczny, nasiąkliwość i mrozoodporność. Uzyskane wartości dla poszczególnych właściwości zostały odniesione do wymagań norm PN-EN 12620 i PN-EN 13043. Na podstawie uzyskanych wyników omówiono jakość kruszyw produkowanych w Polsce. Odniesiono jakość kruszyw do oczekiwań wynikających z potrzeb planowanych inwestycji. Przedstawiono możliwość rozszerzenia bazy surowcowej poza tradycyjnie stosowane materiały.General information on aggregates industry and resources base has been presented. The division of aggregates, requirements and testing methods have been included along with comparative quality analysis. The analysis involved 100 rage of aggregates produced by 95 producers. The aggregates have been tested by IMBiGS in the years 2006-2010. For the analysis, accepted results concerned fraction 8/16. The research were representative for all types of aggregates produced in Poland. The analysis involved basic technological properties of aggregates such as resistance to crushing, grindability, thermal shock resistance, absorbability and freeze resistance. The values gained for particular properties have been related to Standards PN-EN 12620 and PN-EN 13043. The quality of produced in Poland aggregates has been presented basing on the tests results. The quality of the aggregates has been related to the expectations connected with planned investments. The possibility of expanding raw materials base beyond traditional applied materials has been presented

Reaktywność Alkaliczna Kruszyw Węglanowych

In the construction industry carbonate aggregates are commonly used in processes such as concrete production. Aggregates which contain (in their mineral composition) dolomite and an admixture of clay minerals and amorphous silica , can react with alkalis. These reactions can lead to a destructive expansion in concrete. This article explains the mechanisms and the essence of this phenomenon. What is more, some effective and fast methods of the estimation and evaluation of Polish aggregates consisting of carbonate rocks suggests effective methods to determine the usefulness of Polish carbonate aggregates in concrete production are discussed in the paper. Underneath the quality criteria to determine the reactivity of the aggregates will be given. It has been agreed that alkaline reaction and expansion are two separate phenomena related to each other genetically. The aggregates in which reactions caused by clay-siliceous admixtures occur are subjected to expansion. Mineral composition of expansive aggregates as well as their texture indicate that epigenetic dolomites with a distinctive texture are the most reactive. The phase transformations do not end with a complete disintegration of dolomite. They have a cyclical character. They consist of interchangeable reactions of dedolomitization and dolomitization of secondary calcite formed as a result of dolomite's disintegration. The secondary calcite can be effected by Mg+2 ions from pores' solutions and it can form a secondary dolomite. The Mg2+ ions originate from brucite [Mg(OH)2], created in dolomitization process. As a consequence of its reaction with silica, brucite can dissolve and enrich secondary calcite with magnesium. Therefore the reactions which take place in reactive carbonate aggregates and concrete that ismade of it are in fact ongoing processes which consist of dolomite's changes into calcite and vice versa. They are reactions between dedolomitization products (brucite, silica) and products from outside (water, alkalis). The described dedolomitization reactions are a phase of the process that enables expansion due to formation of pressure in inter-granular cracks, with pressure being a result of dry clay-minerals' expansion under the influence of water solutions. Loosening of the aggregate's structure as an effect of dedolomitization reaction makes it easier for water solutions to migrate far into the aggregate's grains followed by their contact with clay minerals.Kruszywa ze skał węglanowych stosowane są powszechnie w budownictwie między innymi do produkcji betonów. Niektóre z nich, zawierające w swym składzie mineralnym obok dolomitu domieszki minerałów ilastych i bezpostaciowej krzemionki, mogą reagować z alkaliami powodując szkodliwą ekspansję w betonach.W artykule opisano istotę i mechanizmy tego zjawiska oraz zaproponowano efektywne metody oceny przydatności polskich kruszyw ze skał węglanowych do produkcji betonów. Podano kryteria jakościowe oceny reaktywności. Ustalono, że reakcje alkaliczne i ekspansja to dwa oddzielne zjawiska, ale genetycznie powiązane ze sobą. Ekspansji podlegają tylko te kruszywa, w których wystąpiły reakcje spowodowane występowaniem domieszek ilasto- krzemionkowych. Skład mineralny kruszyw ekspansywnych oraz ich tekstura wskazują, że szczególnie reaktywne są dolomity epigenetyczne o charakterystycznej teksturze. Przemiany fazowe nie kończą się z chwilą całkowitego rozpadu dolomitu, lecz mają charakter cykliczny. Składają się one z następujących po sobie na przemian reakcji dedolomityzacji i dolomityzacji wtórnego kalcytu powstałego z rozpadu dolomitu. Wtórny kalcyt może ulegać oddziaływaniu jonów Mg+2 znajdujących się w roztworach porowych i tworzyć wtórny dolomit. Jony Mg+2 pochodzą z powstającego w procesie dedolomityzacji brucytu [Mg(OH)2], który w wyniku reakcji z krzemionką (SiO2) może się rozpuszczać i wzbogacać wtórny kalcyt w magnez. Tak więc reakcje zachodzące w reaktywnych kruszywach węglanowych i betonach z nich wykonanych są procesami ciągłymi polegającymi na kolejnych przemianach dolomitu w kalcyt i odwrotnie, a także reakcją pomiędzy produktami dedolomityzacji (brucyt, krzemionka) i produktami dostarczonymi z zewnątrz (woda, alkalia). Opisane reakcje dedolomityzacji są etapem umożliwiającym tworzenie się zjawiska ekspansji w wyniku powstawania w porach międzyziarnowych ciśnienia jako efekt pęcznienia suchych minerałów ilastych pod wpływem roztworów wodnych. Rozluźnienie struktury kruszywa jako efekt reakcji dedolomityzacji ułatwia migrację roztworów wodnych w głąb ziaren kruszywa i ich kontakt z minerałami ilastymi