Seasonal and site-specific variation in vapour and aerosol phase PAHs over Flanders (Belgium) and their relation with anthropogenic activities

Peer reviewe

Electron Probe Micro-Analysis and Laser Microprobe Mass Analysis of Material Leached from a Limestone Cathedral

Electron probe X-ray micro-analysis (EPXMA) and Laser microprobe mass analysis (LAMMA), were applied to characterize the leachate of sandy limestones of a Belgian cathedral. Individual suspended particles, found in water that was sprayed over the cathedral walls ( 1 each ate water ), were sized and analyzed by automated EPXMA-analysis, and classified with hierarchical cluster methods. LAMMA was used to gather more information about particles, present in the solution, as well as in suspension. It was found that the leachate from black walls, had a high sulphate concentration and a large variety of particles in suspension, with different morphology and composition, with silicates as most abundant group. The leachate from white walls is characterized by a predominant Ca-rich suspension, with both original and recrystallized calcite particles, and by a much lower sulphate-ion concentration in the solution. LAMMA-analysis revealed that the organic group of the EPXMA-analysis, consists mostly of carbon-containing fly-ash particles. Hence, in general, it could be concluded that walls which are not subject to direct rainfall are generally covered with a gypsum crust, that turns black due to adhesion of soil dust and fly-ash particles, while white walls become thinner due to rainwater erosion of weathering products and original stone components

M & L Jaargang 7/1

GeneriekJuul Slembrouck, Paul Stryckers, Piet Gillard en Herman Van den Bossche Het Boekenbergpark in Deurne (Antwerpen). [The Boekenberg park at Deurne (Antwerp).]Meer dan ooit is deze uit 1911 daterende, tot de verbeelding sprekende omschrijving van het Boekenbergpark in Deurne op zijn plaats.Nu een aangepast beheer en een wandelbrochure actief aanzetten tot passieve recreatie, gaat Herman Van den Bossche, ruim vijf jaar nà M&L 1/6, over tot een stand van zaken.Marjan Buyle Een middeleeuws stripverhaal. De conservering van een 15de-eeuwse kruisdraging in de Antwerpse kathedraal. [A medieval cartoon. The conservation of a 15th-century Bearing-of-the-Cross in the Antwerp Our Ladys cathedral.]Geen zinnig mens kan heden nog het uitermate artificiële ontkennen van onze hagelwitte middeleeuwse kathedralen.Flard na flard, helaas nog steeds te vaak bij toeval, hertekent zich intussen een rijkelijke, originele binnendecoratie.In de Antwerpse Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal ondervond Marjan Buyle aldus andermaal hoe verrassend het ene kruis een ander kan verbergen.E. Roekens, L. Leysen, R. Van Grieken en E. Keppens Verwering van historische gebouwen door luchtverontreiniging. De Sint-Romboutskathedraal in Mechelen. [Chemical weathering of historic buildings by air pollution. The Saint-Rombouts cathedral at Mechelen.]Het gegeven noch de resultaten zijn geheel nieuw te noemen. De effect-analyse van luchtpollutie op historische gebouwen, in opdracht van het Ministerie van de Vlaamse Gemeenschap uitgevoerd door E. Roekens, L. Leysen, R. Van Grieken (U.I.A.) en E. Keppens (V.U.B.), is in haar toepassing op de Mechelse Sint-Romboutskathedraal nochtans voldoende beangstigend voor enige extra aandacht.Jos Martens, Sieg Vlaeminck en Louis Coolen Het Capucijnenklooster te Sint-Truiden. Een maatschappelijke toekomst voor een religieus verleden. [The monastery of the Capuchins at St. Truiden. A social future for a relgious past.]Verlaten door de oorspronkelijke kloosterlingen, na wisselend gebruik bestemd voor afbraak, beschermd als monument Een routine-gegeven.Maar hoe krijg je nu een herbestemmingsproject voor een dergelijk complex ensemble bijvoorbeeld voor het O.C.M.W. van Sint-Truiden effectief van de grond?Met andere woorden: wàt met de gebundelde inspanningen van Jos Martens, Sieg Vlaeminck en Louis Coolen?SummaryM&L Foto-reportag

Total antioxidant activity and trace elements in human milk: the first 4 months of breast-feeding

The content of many nutrients in breast milk are dependent on the nutritional status of the lactating woman. This is particularly true for fat and water-soluble vitamins, some of which have antioxidant properties. The aim of the study entertained herein was to evaluate the changes in total antioxidant status of human milk during the first 4 months of lactation, and to correlate such changes with the contents in specific antioxidant oligoelements (Cu, Zn, Mn and Se). Milk samples were collected from (31) lactating women recruited at the Service of Obstetrics of the Hospital de São João in Porto, after 1, 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks after birth. The total antioxidant status (TAS) of human milk was measured by the Randox® commercial kit and trace metals by ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry). The results found for TAS and oligoelements under study show a decrease in the concentration of these parameters from 7 days to 4 months of breast-feeding and significant correlations (p < 0.05) were found between TAS and Cu, Zn and Se (not Mn). The decreases of Cu, Zn and Se were also correlated, but not proportional between them, suggesting diverse excretion mechanisms for all. Between primipara and multipara women, a significant difference was found only for Cu and Zn concentrations at 7 days of lactation, but not for the other metals or TAS. With respect to the mother’s age, no correlation was found, either for trace metal concentrations or TAS

Ultrafine particles in four European urban environments: Results from a new continuous long-term monitoring network

To gain a better understanding on the spatiotemporal variation of ultrafine particles (UFPs) in urban environments, this study reports on the first results of a long-term UFP monitoring network, set up in Amsterdam (NL), Antwerp (BE), Leicester (UK) and London (UK). Total number concentrations and size distributions were assessed during 1e2 years at four fixed urban background sites, supplemented with mobile trailer measurements for co-location monitoring and additional short-term monitoring sites. Intra- and interurban spatiotemporal UFP variation, associations with commonly-monitored pollutants (PM, NOx and BC) and impacts of wind fields were evaluated. Although comparable size distributions were observed between the four cities, source-related differences were demonstrated within specific particle size classes. Total and size-resolved particle number concentrations showed clear traffic-related temporal variation, confirming road traffic as the major UFP contributor in urban environments. New particle formation events were observed in all cities. Correlations with typical traffic-related pollutants (BC and NOx) were obtained for all monitoring stations, except for Amsterdam, which might be attributable to UFP emissions from Schiphol airport. The temporal variation in particle number concentration correlated fairly weakly between the four cities (rs = 0.28 0.50, COD = 0.28 0.37), yet improved significantly inside individual cities (rs = 0.59-0.77). Nevertheless, considerable differences were still obtained in terms of particle numbers (20-38% for total particle numbers and up to 49% for size-resolved particle numbers), confirming the importance of local source contributions and the need for careful consideration when allocating UFP monitoring stations in heterogeneous urban environments

Demographic, clinical, and service-use characteristics related to the clinician’s recommendation to transition from child to adult mental health services

Purpose: The service configuration with distinct child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) and adult mental health services (AMHS) may be a barrier to continuity of care. Because of a lack of transition policy, CAMHS clinicians have to decide whether and when a young person should transition to AMHS. This study describes which characteristics are associated with the clinicians’ advice to continue treatment at AMHS. Methods: Demographic, family, clinical, treatment, and service-use characteristics of the MILESTONE cohort of 763 young people from 39 CAMHS in Europe were assessed using multi-informant and standardized assessment tools. Logistic mixed models were fitted to assess the relationship between these characteristics and clinicians’ transition recommendations. Results: Young people with higher clinician-rated severity of psychopathology scores, with self- and parent-reported need for ongoing treatment, with lower everyday functional skills and without self-reported psychotic experiences were more likely to be recommended to continue treatment. Among those who had been recommended to continue treatment, young people who used psychotropic medication, who had been in CAMHS for more than a year, and for whom appropriate AMHS were available were more likely to be recommended to continue treatment at AMHS. Young people whose parents indicated a need for ongoing treatment were more likely to be recommended to stay in CAMHS. Conclusion: Although the decision regarding continuity of treatment was mostly determined by a small set of clinical characteristics, the recommendation to continue treatment at AMHS was mostly affected by service-use related characteristics, such as the availability of appropriate services

Cohort profile : demographic and clinical characteristics of the MILESTONE longitudinal cohort of young people approaching the upper age limit of their child mental health care service in Europe

Purpose: The presence of distinct child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) and adult mental health services (AMHS) impacts continuity of mental health treatment for young people. However, we do not know the extent of discontinuity of care in Europe nor the effects of discontinuity on the mental health of young people. Current research is limited, as the majority of existing studies are retrospective, based on small samples or used non-standardised information from medical records. The MILESTONE prospective cohort study aims to examine associations between service use, mental health and other outcomes over 24 months, using information from self, parent and clinician reports. Participants: Seven hundred sixty-three young people from 39 CAMHS in 8 European countries, their parents and CAMHS clinicians who completed interviews and online questionnaires and were followed up for 2 years after reaching the upper age limit of the CAMHS they receive treatment at. Findings to date: This cohort profile describes the baseline characteristics of the MILESTONE cohort. The mental health of young people reaching the upper age limit of their CAMHS varied greatly in type and severity: 32.8% of young people reported clinical levels of self-reported problems and 18.6% were rated to be ‘markedly ill’, ‘severely ill’ or ‘among the most extremely ill’ by their clinician. Fifty-seven per cent of young people reported psychotropic medication use in the previous half year. Future plans: Analysis of longitudinal data from the MILESTONE cohort will be used to assess relationships between the demographic and clinical characteristics of young people reaching the upper age limit of their CAMHS and the type of care the young person uses over the next 2 years, such as whether the young person transitions to AMHS. At 2 years follow-up, the mental health outcomes of young people following different care pathways will be compared. Trial registration number: NCT03013595

Concentration trends and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Belgium

Peer reviewe