Identification and quantification of microplastics in wastewater using focal plane array-based reflectance micro-FT-IR imaging

Microplastics (<5 mm) have been documented in environmental samples on a global scale. While these pollutants may enter aquatic environments via wastewater treatment facilities, the abundance of microplastics in these matrices has not been investigated. Although efficient methods for the analysis of microplastics in sediment samples and marine organisms have been published, no methods have been developed for detecting these pollutants within organic-rich wastewater samples. In addition, there is no standardized method for analyzing microplastics isolated from environmental samples. In many cases, part of the identification protocol relies on visual selection before analysis, which is open to bias. In order to address this, a new method for the analysis of microplastics in wastewater was developed. A pretreatment step using 30% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was employed to remove biogenic material, and focal plane array (FPA)-based reflectance micro-Fourier-transform (FT-IR) imaging was shown to successfully image and identify different microplastic types (polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon-6, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene). Microplastic-spiked wastewater samples were used to validate the methodology, resulting in a robust protocol which was nonselective and reproducible (the overall success identification rate was 98.33%). The use of FPA-based micro-FT-IR spectroscopy also provides a considerable reduction in analysis time compared with previous methods, since samples that could take several days to be mapped using a single-element detector can now be imaged in less than 9 h (circular filter with a diameter of 47 mm). This method for identifying and quantifying microplastics in wastewater is likely to provide an essential tool for further research into the pathways by which microplastics enter the environment.This work is funded by a NERC (Natural Environment Research Council) CASE studentship (NE/K007521/1) with contribution from industrial partner Fera Science Ltd., United Kingdom. The authors would like to thank Peter Vale, from Severn Trent Water Ltd, for providing access to and additionally Ashley Howkins (Brunel University London) for providing travel and assistance with the sampling of the Severn Trent wastewater treatment plant in Derbyshire, UK. We are grateful to Emma Bradley and Chris Sinclair for providing helpful suggestions for our research

Overweight, physical activity, tobacco and alcohol consumption in a cross-sectional random sample of German adults

BACKGROUND: There is a current paucity of data on the health behaviour of non-selected populations in Central Europe. Data on health behaviour were collected as part of the EMIL study which investigated the prevalence of infection with Echinococcus multilocularis and other medical conditions in an urban German population. METHODS: Participating in the present study were 2,187 adults (1,138 females [52.0%]; 1,049 males [48.0%], age: 18–65 years) taken from a sample of 4,000 persons randomly chosen from an urban population. Data on health behaviour like physical activity, tobacco and alcohol consumption were obtained by means of a questionnaire, documentation of anthropometric data, abdominal ultrasound and blood specimens for assessment of chemical parameters. RESULTS: The overall rate of participation was 62.8%. Of these, 50.3% of the adults were overweight or obese. The proportion of active tobacco smokers stood at 30.1%. Of those surveyed 38.9% did not participate in any physical activity. Less than 2 hours of leisure time physical activity per week was associated with female sex, higher BMI (Body Mass Index), smoking and no alcohol consumption. Participants consumed on average 12 grams of alcohol per day. Total cholesterol was in 62.0% (>5.2 mmol/l) and triglycerides were elevated in 20.5% (≥ 2.3 mmol/l) of subjects studied. Hepatic steatosis was identified in 27.4% of subjects and showed an association with male sex, higher BMI, higher age, higher total blood cholesterol, lower HDL, higher triglycerides and higher ALT. CONCLUSION: This random sample of German urban adults was characterised by a high prevalence of overweight and obesity. This and the pattern of alcohol consumption, smoking and physical activity can be considered to put this group at high risk for associated morbidity and underscore the urgent need for preventive measures aimed at reducing the significantly increased health risk

Measurement of plasma viscosity in stored frozen samples: a general population study

To establish whether plasma viscosity could be accurately measured from frozen-stored (instead of fresh) plasma samples in epidemiological studies, we prospectively compared fresh and frozen-stored samples from 1361 men and women aged 25-74 years participating in the Glasgow MONICA survey. Mean plasma viscosity (37degreesC) was significantly higher (P lt 0.0001) in fresh samples (mean = 1.310 mPa/s, standard deviation = 0.079 mPa/s) compared with frozen samples (mean = 1.278 mPa/s, standard deviation = 0.075 mPa/s). However, this difference (mean = 0.030 mPa/s, 95% confidence interval = 0.029-0.031) did not vary significantly with increasing viscosity (kappa statistic for consistency of categorization by thirds = 0.824, standard error = 0.021). We conclude that frozen samples are acceptable for epidemiological studies of plasma viscosity, which should increase their utilization

Independent association of various smoking characteristics with markers of systemic inflammation in men. Results from a representative sample of the general population (MONICA Augsburg Survey 1994/95).

AIMS: Aim of the study was to investigate the association between various markers of systemic inflammation and a detailed history of smoking in a large representative sample of the general population. METHODS AND RESULTS: The effects of chronic smoking on white blood cell (WBC) count, fibrinogen, albumin, plasma viscosity (PV), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured in 2305 men and 2211 women, age 25-74 years, participating in the third MONICA Augsburg survey 1994/95. In men, current smokers showed statistically significantly higher values for WBC count, fibrinogen, PV, and CRP, compared to never smokers, with intermediate, but only slightly increased values for ex-smokers and for occasional smokers. No consistent associations were seen with albumin. Duration of smoking was positively associated with markers of inflammation as were pack-years of smoking. Conversely, duration of abstinence from smoking was inversely related to these markers. Except for WBC count, no such associations were found in women. CONCLUSION: Data from this large representative population show strong associations between smoking and various markers of systemic inflammation in men. They also show that cessation of smoking is associated with a decreased inflammatory response, which may represent one mechanism responsible for the reduced cardiovascular risk in these subjects

Markers of inflammation in woman on different hormone replacement therapies.

BACKGROUND AND AIM. To measure in ̄ammatory markers in postmenopausal women on different forms of hormone in postmenopausal women on different forms of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). replacement therapy (HRT). METHOD. C-reactive protein (CRP), &reg;brinogen, plasma METHOD. C-reactive protein (CRP), &reg;brinogen, plasma viscosity (PV), albumin and white blood cell (WBC) count viscosity (PV), albumin and white blood cell (WBC) count were determined in 749 postmenopausal women. were determined in 749 postmenopausal women. RESULTS. CRP concentration was signi&reg;cantly higher in RESULTS. CRP concentration was signi&reg;cantly higher in women on estrogen monotherapy (difference of the median women on estrogen monotherapy (difference of the median (d) 0.96 (d) 0.96 mg/l, mg/l, P P = = 0.013), compared to those without HRT, 0.013), compared to those without HRT, but there was no difference in women on combined HRT. but there was no difference in women on combined HRT. Fibrinogen concentration was signi&reg;cantly lower in women Fibrinogen concentration was signi&reg;cantly lower in women on estrogen monotherapy (d 0.25 on estrogen monotherapy (d 0.25 g/l, g/l, P P = = 0.004) and 0.004) and combined HRT (d 0.4 combined HRT (d 0.4 g/l, g/l, P P &lt; &lt; 0.001), compared to women 0.001), compared to women without HRT. Similarly, PV was signi&reg;cantly lower in women without HRT. Similarly, PV was signi&reg;cantly lower in women on estrogen monotherapy (d 0.017 on estrogen monotherapy (d 0.017 mPa mPa &sdot; &sdot; s, s, P P = = 0.007) and 0.007) and women on combined HRT (d 0.039 women on combined HRT (d 0.039 mPa mPa &sdot; &sdot; s, s, P P &lt; &lt; 0.001), 0.001), compared to those without HRT. No differences were found compared to those without HRT. No differences were found for WBC count and the negative acute phase marker for WBC count and the negative acute phase marker albumin in the various treatment groups. In contrast to albumin in the various treatment groups. In contrast to oral estrogen administration, levels o fCRP, &reg;brinogen and oral estrogen administration, levels o fCRP, &reg;brinogen and PV in women on transdermal estrogen therapy did not differ PV in women on transdermal estrogen therapy did not differ from the no-HRT group. There was no association between from the no-HRT group. There was no association between these markers o fin ̄ammation and plasma estrogen levels. these markers o fin ̄ammation and plasma estrogen levels. CONCLUSION. Oral estrogen monotherapy was associated CONCLUSION. Oral estrogen monotherapy was associated with highest concentrations o fCRP. In contrast, other with highest concentrations o fCRP. In contrast, other markers o fin ̄ammation were either similar or lower in the markers o fin ̄ammation were either similar or lower in the oral HRT group, compared to the group o fwomen without oral HRT group, compared to the group o fwomen without HRT, suggesting that higher CRP concentrations re ̄ect HRT, suggesting that higher CRP concentrations re ̄ect estrogen effects on CRP expression rather than a systemic estrogen effects on CRP expression rather than a systemic pro-in ̄ammatory effect. pro-in ̄ammatory e

Distributions of C-reactive protein measured by high- sensitivity assays in apparently healthy men and women from different populations in Europe

No abstract available

Intervention study shows outpatient cardiac rehabilitation to be economically at least as attractive as inpatient rehabilitation.

BACKGROUND: Since the late 1990 s, cost pressure has led to a growing interest in outpatient rehabilitation in Germany where predominantly inpatient rehabilitation has been provided. Taking into account the feasibility of a randomized design, the aim of this study was to compare outpatient and inpatient cardiac rehabilitation from a societal perspective. METHOD: A comprehensive cohort design was applied. Costs during rehabilitation were measured using individual documentation of the rehabilitation centers. Economic end points were quality of life (EQ-5D), and total direct and indirect costs. A propensity score approach, integrated into a simultaneous regression framework for cost and effects, was used to control for selection bias. Bootstrap analysis was applied for assessing uncertainty in cost-effectiveness. RESULTS: A total of 163 patients were included in the study (112 inpatients, 51 outpatients). As randomization was chosen by only 2.5% of participants, the study had to be analyzed as an observational study. Direct costs during inpatient rehabilitation were significantly higher by 600 euro (+/-318; p &lt; 0.001) compared to outpatient rehabilitation (2,016 euro +/- 354 euro vs. 1,416 euro +/- 315), while there was no significant difference in health-related quality of life. Over the 12-month follow-up period, adjusted costs difference in total cost was estimated at -2,895 euro (p = 0.102) and adjusted difference in effects at 0.018 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) (n.s.) in favor of outpatient treatment. CONCLUSION: The ratio of mean cost over mean effect difference (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio) indicates dominance of outpatient rehabilitation, but at a considerable statistical uncertainty. However, outpatient rehabilitation cannot be rejected from an economic perspective