Geochemical dispersion of tin in marine sediments, Mount's Bay, Cornwall

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Mercury, cadmium, and lead levels in human placenta: a systematic review

BACKGROUND: Placental tissue may furnish information on the exposure of both mother and fetus. Mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) are toxicants of interest in pregnancy because they are associated with alterations in child development. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to summarize the available information regarding total Hg, Cd, and Pb levels in human placenta and possible related factors. METHODS: We performed a systematic search of PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Lilacs, OSH, and Web of Science for original papers on total Hg, Cd, or Pb levels in human placenta that were published in English or Spanish (1976-2011). Data on study design, population characteristics, collection and analysis of placenta specimens, and main results were extracted using a standardized form. RESULTS: We found a total of 79 papers (73 different studies). Hg, Cd, and Pb levels were reported in 24, 46, and 46 studies, respectively. Most studies included small convenience samples of healthy pregnant women. Studies were heterogeneous regarding populations selected, processing of specimens, and presentation of results. Hg concentrations > 50 ng/g were found in China (Shanghai), Japan, and the Faroe Islands. Cd levels ranged from 1.2 ng/g to 53 ng/g and were highest in the United States, Japan, and Eastern Europe. Pb showed the greatest variability, with levels ranging from 1.18 ng/g in China (Shanghai) to 500 ng/g in a polluted area of Poland. CONCLUSION: The use of the placenta as a biomarker to assess heavy metals exposure is not properly developed because of heterogeneity among the studies. International standardized protocols are needed to enhance comparability and increase the usefulness of this promising tissue in biomonitoring studies.We thank the librarians of the Móstoles Hospital and of the National Health Sciences Library (ISCIII).S

Analysis of Information governance and patient data protection within primary health care

The introduction of Information Governance throughout the NHS in Great Britain from 2004 onwards, saw Pri-mary Care Medicine subject to a regulatory regime aligning current practice with codes, ethics, legislation and standards. However the Information Commissioners Office, as regulator of Healthcare Data Controllers, has issued statu-tory Undertakings to stem the tide of continued leakage of sensitive health data. Drawing on research from America, the issue of IT Security Risk is presented as problematic given the limitations of surveys indentifying industry trends and is viewed beyond the traditional Threat Value Asset Matrix towards a framework incorporating the reasonable man –taking all due care and diligence as is reasonably practicable in the circumstances. Following the identification of major problems across 10% of English general practices in comply-ing with both Confidentiality and Data Protection Assurance, and Information Security Assurance, a national survey of GP Practices was undertaken to investigate security incidents and risk. Contemporaneous to this, information on reported unto-ward security incidents was obtained from the regulator and all Health Boards across Scotland. Together, these results identified actual risk to securing patient data and concerns voiced from within the sector. This may be of relevance to practitioners, managers as well as policy makers particularly where changes to the structure of the NHS are proposed

Analysis of Information governance and patient data protection within primary health care

The introduction of Information Governance throughout the NHS in Great Britain from 2004 onwards, saw Pri-mary Care Medicine subject to a regulatory regime aligning current practice with codes, ethics, legislation and standards. However the Information Commissioners Office, as regulator of Healthcare Data Controllers, has issued statu-tory Undertakings to stem the tide of continued leakage of sensitive health data. Drawing on research from America, the issue of IT Security Risk is presented as problematic given the limitations of surveys indentifying industry trends and is viewed beyond the traditional Threat Value Asset Matrix towards a framework incorporating the reasonable man –taking all due care and diligence as is reasonably practicable in the circumstances. Following the identification of major problems across 10% of English general practices in comply-ing with both Confidentiality and Data Protection Assurance, and Information Security Assurance, a national survey of GP Practices was undertaken to investigate security incidents and risk. Contemporaneous to this, information on reported unto-ward security incidents was obtained from the regulator and all Health Boards across Scotland. Together, these results identified actual risk to securing patient data and concerns voiced from within the sector. This may be of relevance to practitioners, managers as well as policy makers particularly where changes to the structure of the NHS are proposed