Particulate matter exposure during pregnancy is associated with birth weight, but not gestational age, 1962-1992: a cohort study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Exposure to air pollutants is suggested to adversely affect fetal growth, but the evidence remains inconsistent in relation to specific outcomes and exposure windows.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Using birth records from the two major maternity hospitals in Newcastle upon Tyne in northern England between 1961 and 1992, we constructed a database of all births to mothers resident within the city. Weekly black smoke exposure levels from routine data recorded at 20 air pollution monitoring stations were obtained and individual exposures were estimated via a two-stage modeling strategy, incorporating temporally and spatially varying covariates. Regression analyses, including 88,679 births, assessed potential associations between exposure to black smoke and birth weight, gestational age and birth weight standardized for gestational age and sex.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Significant associations were seen between black smoke and both standardized and unstandardized birth weight, but not for gestational age when adjusted for potential confounders. Not all associations were linear. For an increase in whole pregnancy black smoke exposure, from the 1^st(7.4 μg/m³) to the 25^th(17.2 μg/m³), 50^th(33.8 μg/m³), 75^th(108.3 μg/m³), and 90^th(180.8 μg/m³) percentiles, the adjusted estimated decreases in birth weight were 33 g (SE 1.05), 62 g (1.63), 98 g (2.26) and 109 g (2.44) respectively. A significant interaction was observed between socio-economic deprivation and black smoke on both standardized and unstandardized birth weight with increasing effects of black smoke in reducing birth weight seen with increasing socio-economic disadvantage.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The findings of this study progress the hypothesis that the association between black smoke and birth weight may be mediated through intrauterine growth restriction. The associations between black smoke and birth weight were of the same order of magnitude as those reported for passive smoking. These findings add to the growing evidence of the harmful effects of air pollution on birth outcomes.</p

Identification of 12 new susceptibility loci for different histotypes of epithelial ovarian cancer.

To identify common alleles associated with different histotypes of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), we pooled data from multiple genome-wide genotyping projects totaling 25,509 EOC cases and 40,941 controls. We identified nine new susceptibility loci for different EOC histotypes: six for serous EOC histotypes (3q28, 4q32.3, 8q21.11, 10q24.33, 18q11.2 and 22q12.1), two for mucinous EOC (3q22.3 and 9q31.1) and one for endometrioid EOC (5q12.3). We then performed meta-analysis on the results for high-grade serous ovarian cancer with the results from analysis of 31,448 BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers, including 3,887 mutation carriers with EOC. This identified three additional susceptibility loci at 2q13, 8q24.1 and 12q24.31. Integrated analyses of genes and regulatory biofeatures at each locus predicted candidate susceptibility genes, including OBFC1, a new candidate susceptibility gene for low-grade and borderline serous EOC

Membrane extraction in environmental chemical analysis

Membrane extraction techniques permit the application of classical liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) chemistry to instrumental and automated operation. Various shortcomings of LLE are overcome by membrane extraction techniques as they use none or very little organic solvents, high enrichment factors can be obtained and there are no problems with emulsions. A three phase SLM system (aq/org/aq), where analytes are extracted from the aqueous sample into an organic liquid, immobilized in a porous hydrophobic membrane support, and further to a second aqueous phase, is suitable for the extraction of polar compounds (acidic or basic, charged, metals, etc.) and it is compatible with reversed phase HPLC. A two-phase system (aq/org) where analytes are extracted into an organic solvent separated from the aqueous sample by a hydrophobic porous membrane is suitable for more hydrophobic analytes and is compatible with gas chromatography. The experimental format can be based on either flat membranes and on hollow fibre membranes in various ways. Using hollow fibers, it is possible to perform extractions for sample clean-up and enrichment with very cheap and simple equipment, leading to high enrichment factors (easily thousands of times) for ultra trace analysis. Membrane extraction can be a basis for environmental field sampling. Such sampling can be performed in two different regimes, with different purposes. One aim is to attempt a complete extraction of the analytes in a sample, in order to determine the total concentration of these analytes. This is similar to what is attempted with classical techniques such as LLS, and SPE (solid phase extraction). An alternative and complementary way of working is to attempt equilibrium between the sample and the sampler, with minimum disturbance of the sample. These are the principles of "equilibrium extraction through membranes" (ESTM) as recently was developed. This technique leads to the determination of the freely dissolved concentration lie not complexated or otherwise bound fraction) of the analyte. This is related to the bioavailability, fugacity and chemical potential of a pollutant in the sample and is therefore significant for the evaluation of S toxicity and transport processes of the pollutant in the environment, both for polar organic compounds, and for metal ions

Membrane extraction techniques in environmental analysis

Membrane assisted extraction facilitates the integration of classical liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) chemistry to automated instrumental analysis. Various shortcomings of classical LLE are overcome by the membrane separation of sample (donor) and extract (acceptor): 1) reduced solvent usage, 2) higher enrichment factors, 3) no solvent evaporation and 4) no formation of emulsions. Membrane extractions provide a high degree of clean-up, permitting automated analysis of environmental and biological samples with no or very small consumption of organic solvents. This review gives a short overview of membrane extraction in environmental analytical chemistry. The principles of the equilibrium extraction approach will be described and examples involving applications to environmental samples will be presented. Keywords: Membrane extraction, Supported liquid membrane extraction, SLM, MMLLE, Liquid Phase Microextraction, Selectivity, Enrichment, Equilibrium extractio

Membrane extraction

Abstract is not availabl

Membrane extraction for sample preparation

Sample preparation techniques based upon liquid membrane extraction offer a high degree of selectivity and enrichment power and use small amounts of organic solvents. They also provide convenient possibilities for direct and automated interfacing with chromatography systems and other analytical instruments

Advances and developments in membrane extraction for gas chromatography: Techniques and applications.

This review article focuses on advances and technical developments of the realm of membrane extraction techniques for the analytes that are (made) amenable to gas chromatographic analysis, and sheds light on the analytical applications to biological and environmental samples. In this review, the state of the art in this growing area of membrane extraction for gas chromatography is presented and several selected examples from our work and that of other groups are discussed. The published articles on the techniques and their applications, found in the scientific literature between the years 2000 and May 2007 and cited in over than 100 references, are perused and commented. A good deal of light will be thrown on the novelty of the techniques, instrumentations and applications. The mentioned techniques are mainly microporous membrane liquid-liquid extraction, extracting syringe, two-phase hollow-fibre-protected liquid-phase microextraction and its modifications, and membrane extraction with sorbent interface and its variants. The merits and demerits of the techniques will be highlighted