Wastewater workers and hepatitis A virus infection.

The main occupational hazard of wastewater workers (WWs) is the direct exposure to the variety of infectious agents present in sewage material, with hepatitis A virus (HAV) being the most frequent one. Most epidemiological studies have shown a higher risk of hepatitis A among WWs, although some studies have produced conflicting evidence. To evaluate the hypothesis of increased risk of HAV infection in WWs. The prevalence of antibodies toHAV in 869WWswas compared to 311 other subjects and analysed to detect the main potentially confounding variables. Univariate analysis demonstrated that occupational exposure to sewage was not significantly associated with the prevalence of anti-HAV(1). The anti-HAV(1) prevalence was strongly associated with age and shellfish consumption (P,0.05) when the subcategories of workers were examined separately (WWs and control group) and jointly. In the logistic regression model, a significant association between anti-HAV(1) prevalence and duration of employment (P,0.05) was found. The interaction term(age3duration of employment) was significant (P,0.001) when included in the logistic model. This study shows that working in a wastewater treatment plant does not seem to be related to a greater prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis A. Moreover, the relative risk of HAV infection among WWs seems to be correlated with low anti-HAV(1) prevalence in the general population

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons loads into the Mediterranean Sea: Estimate of Sarno River inputs

The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pollution in the Sarno River and its environmental impact on the Gulf of Naples (Tyrrhenian Sea, Central Mediterranean Sea) were estimated. The 16 PAHs identified by the USEPA as priority pollutants and perylene were determined in the water dissolved phase (DP), suspended particulate matter (SPM) and sediments. Total PAHs concentrations ranged from 23.1 to 2670.4 ng L(-1) in water (sum of DP and SPM) and from 5.3 to 678.6 ng g(-1) in sediment samples. Source analysis revealed that PAHs mainly came from combustion process. Contaminant discharges of PAHs into the sea were calculated in about 8530 gd(-1) showing that this river should account as one of the main contribution sources of PAHs to the Tyrrhenian Sea

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Pollution in a Coastal Environment: the Statistical Analysis of Dependence to Estimate the Source of Pollution

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of carcinogenic contaminants widespread in the environment. PAHs are produced by both anthropogenic and natural processes. Difficulties exist in identifying their origins. This paper reports a practical application of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Principal Component Regression (PCR) to identify the pyrolytic, petrogenic and diagenesis sources of PAH pollution in the Sarno River and Estuary. Nicknamed "the most polluted river in Europe", the Sarno River originates in south-western Italy and has a watershed of about 715 km(2). PCA indicated that the PAH contamination in the Sarno River and Estuary resulted from a mixed pattern. The first principal component (PC1) had significant positive loading in high molecular weight PAHs. This profile of PAH usually includes products of high temperature combustion/pyrolitic processes, reflecting the effects of traffic pyrolysis. The second principal component (PC2) had significant positive loading in two-to-four ring PAHs. So, PC2 may be considered as components from petrogenic sources. PC3 was characterized by a high loading of perylene, thought to originate from diagenetic alteration of perylenequinone pigment or some other organic matter. Therefore, this factor can be considered as natural-origin PAHs. In the PCR, the regression coefficients for components 1-3 were 66.6, 40.4 and 19.5, respectively. In this application, the PCR was a very useful statistical technique for handling the problem of multicollinearity. Results from the application of PCR have been compared with Partial Least Square (PLS) and no significant differences were reported in the prediction errors and latent variables available by PCR and PLS

The consumption of genetically modified foods in Italian high school students

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can be defined as organisms in which the DNA has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally. Such methods are used to create GM plants – which are then used to grow (GM) food crops. GM foods have the potential to solve many of the world’s hunger and malnutrition problems, and to help protect and preserve the environment by increasing yield and reducing reliance upon chemical pesticides and herbicides. Nevertheless, the consumption of GM foods provokes doubts and hesitations among consumers, especially in Italy. This paper has two aims, the first is to investigate genetically modified (GM) foods consumption in Italian high school students through a large sample size survey on 2122 students randomly selected in 39 schools of a metropolitan area (Naples, South-Italy). The second, by examining the behavioural process that drives individual’s perceptions of GM food taking advantage of an empirical choice methodology that corrects for endogeneity in decision making relationships, namely structural equation model (SEM). The results show that a very large percentage of students never or rarely eat GM food and a lot of them do not suggest the consumption of GM food. The proposed SEM is a full formative measurement model and shows that GM foods consumption in Italian students depends on the knowledge of GMO and on the impact of the GMO on the men’s health and on the environment. Therefore, in order to orient population it could be realized a standardized evaluation systems relative to human health and environment consequences produced by GM organisms and GM foods

Clinical risk in rehabilitation: an exploratory investigation in Campania Region

BACKGROUND: Clinical risk management is a comprehensive programme that encompasses all the measures implemented to improve the quality of the healthcare service and ensure patient safety, which is based on learning through error. This process is intended to bring about ongoing improvements in clinical practice, starting with risk identification, before moving on to risk assessment and analysis, in order to reduce risks where possible. When clinical risk management is applied in rehabilitation, the first step involves identifying errors by assessing adverse events, which are considered to indicate the existing risk. Our work aims to explore the characteristics of the clinical risk in rehabilitation so as to learn more about its extent, its components, and its implications for the user. METHODS: Our study involved numerous workers operating in four different branches of rehabilitation - speech therapy, physiotherapy, psychomotor education and occupational therapy - at forty-nine private rehabilitation centres in the province of Naples, an area that has not been studied before. A questionnaire was drafted regarding the main errors committed in the rehabilitation sector. It was then distributed and collected in again, after which the results were analysed and outcomes measured. Out of a total of 556 questionnaires distributed, 493 were returned (88.6% response rate.). RESULTS: The study revealed that for all the rehabilitation branches considered, the macro-category of errors linked to technical and professional aspects accounted for the highest percentage of the total errors (39%). In this study, the most frequent errors linked to technical and professional aspects were: wrong dose errors, treatment planning errors and functional assessment errors. CONCLUSIONS: There is an evident need to take action in order to manage the clinical risk in rehabilitation: to promote a concept of errors as opportunities for learning and improvement; to maintain the focus on both individual responsibility and on any systemic failings; to share fundamental values such as transparency, collaboration between workers, communication with patients, and a commitment to ongoing improvements in healthcare quality

Respiratory function in power plant workers exposed to nitrogen dioxide.

BACKGROUND: Power plant workers are potentially exposed to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and may therefore be at higher risk of pulmonary diseases than the general population. AIMS: To assess the association of NO2 exposure with spirometric abnormalities in power plant workers. METHODS: Forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory ratio (FER = FEV1/FVC) were correlated with demographic characteristics, smoking history and environmental exposure to NO2 in power plant workers exposed to environmental NO2 at work and in a control group of administrative employees. Twenty-four hour environmental NO2 concentrations were measured at each workplace. RESULTS: The concentrations of environmental NO2 ranged from 1.21 to 7.82mg m(-3) with a mean value of 3.91 + 1.51mg m(-3). The results showed that FEV1 and FVC were significantly lower in 347 power plant workers than in the 349 controls (P < 0.001). The FER was significantly correlated with age, environmental NO2 concentration, smoking and height. CONCLUSIONS: Occupational exposure to NO2 emissions in power plants is significantly associated with lung function abnormalities as assessed by spirometry. Spirometric measurements in power plant workers exposed to NO2 emissions may be an effective means of detecting early signs of impaired respiratory health in this group of workers

Healthcare personnel and hand decontamination in intensive care units: Knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour in Italy

The purpose of this study was to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour regarding hand decontamination in personnel of intensive care units (ICUs) in Italy. All ICU physicians and nurses in 19 and five randomly selected hospitals in Campania and Calabria (Italy) were mailed a questionnaire focusing on demographics and practice characteristics; knowledge about prevention of hospital acquired infection; attitudes and behaviour with respect to hand decontamination; and use of gloves. A total of 413 questionnaires were returned giving a response rate of 66.6%. Overall, 53.2% agreed with the correct responses on knowledge related to infection control, and this knowledge was significantly higher in neonatal and medicine-surgery wards and in larger ICUs. A positive attitude was reported by the large majority who agreed that hand decontamination reduces the risk of infection in patients (96.8%) and personnel (86.2%), and the positive attitude was significantly higher among older and female personnel and in those with a higher level of knowledge. Only 60% always decontaminate hands at the start of a shift, and 72.5% before and after a patient contact. Higher compliance is reported for invasive manoeuvres, such as urinary catheters (96.5%) and intravenous lines (77.1%). Routine hand decontamination between each patient was significantly higher in females, and in neonatal and medicine-surgery ICUs. Our results suggest that interventions should not only be focused on predisposing factors (knowledge), but also on enabling (facilitating) and reinforcing (gratifying) factors

Polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in Tiber River and Estuary: Occurrence, distribution and ecological risk

The polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) pollution in the Tiber River and its environmental impact on the Tyrrhenian Sea (Central Mediterranean Sea) were estimated. 32 PCBs and 17 OCPs (aldrin, α-BHC, β-BHC, δ-BHC, lindane, p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDT, dieldrin, endosulfan I, endosulfan II, endosulfan sulfate, endrin, endrin aldehyde, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, methoxychlor) were determined in the water dissolved phase (DP), suspended particulate matter (SPM) and sediment samples. Total concentrations of PCBs ranged from 0.54 to 74.75ngL-1 in water (sum of DP and SPM) and from 3.73 to 79.30ngg-1 dry weigh in sediment samples; while the concentrations of total OCPs collected in water (sum of DP and SPM) ranged from 0.07 to 7.04ngL-1 and from 0.66 to 10.02ngg-1 dry weigh in sediment samples. Contaminant discharges into the sea were calculated in about 227.08kgyear-1 for PCBs and 24.91kgyear-1 for OCPs, showing that this river should account as one of the main contribution sources of PCBs and OCPs to the Tyrrhenian Sea. The ∑TEQPCB from the sediment samples ranged from 0.0006 to 0.37ngg-1 with an average level of 0.13ngg-1. Based on Sediments Quality Guidelines, biological adverse effects on aquatic ecosystem were rare to occasional for PCB and OCP levels in Tiber water syste

Evaluation of the Seismic Capacity of Existing Moment Resisting Frames by a Simplified Approach: Examples and Numerical Application

The capacity of a structure can be assessed using inelastic analysis, requiring sophisticated numerical procedures such as pushover and incremental dynamic analyses. A simplified method for the evaluation of the seismic performance of steel moment resisting frames (MRFs) to be used in everyday practice has been recently proposed. This method evaluates the capacity of buildings employing an analytical trilinear model without resorting to any non−linear analysis. Despite the methodologies suggested by codes, the assessing procedure herein described is of easy application, also by hand calculation. Furthermore, it constitutes a suitable tool to check the capacity of the buildings designed with the new seismic code prescriptions. The proposed methodology has been set up through a large parametric analysis, carried out on 420frames designed according to three different approaches: the theory of plastic mechanism control (TPMC), ensuring the design of structures showing global collapse mechanism (GMRFs), the one based on the Eurocode 8 design requirements (SMRFs), and a simple design against horizontal loads (OMRFs) without specific seismic requirements. In this paper, some examples of the application of this simplified methodology are proposed with references to structures supposed to exhibit global, partial and soft storey mechanism