A one-year survey of organotin compounds in the reservoirs supplying the drinking water treatment plants of Athens, Greece

Organotin compounds belong to the priority list of substances regulated by 76/464/EEC Directive, as well as by 2000/60/EC Water Framework Directive, because they pose considerable risks to the environment and human health. They are the most commonly used organometallic compounds with estimated global amount produced 50,000 tons per year. Therefore, they have been detected worldwide in surface waters, drinking water, sediments and biota. The objective of the present investigation was the determination of these compounds in the water sources supplying the drinking water treatment plants of Athens, Greece, in particular at the reservoirs Mornos, Marathonas, Yliki and Evinos. The quality of water of those reservoirs could be affected from human activities, such as industry and agriculture, as well as from settlements in the area nearby. The surface water sampling campaigns executed were seasonal, during the period March 2004-May 2005, while finished drinking water samples from the distribution network of Athens were also analyzed. Six organotin species (monobutyltin, dibutyltin, tributyltin, monophenyltin, diphenyltin and triphenyltin) were determined by a gas chromatography - flame photometric detector (GC-FPD) method, after sample pretreatment with simultaneous liquid-liquid extraction with hexane and derivatization with tetraethyl borate. The results showed that the waters studied are free from organotin compounds, except for a limited number of samples, where the occurrence of some organotin species at low concentrations was observed. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

A comparative evaluation of ozonation and heterogeneous photocatalytic oxidation processes for reuse of secondary treated urban wastewater

This study aimed to optimize two oxidation processes for wastewater reuse of an urban wastewater treatment plant (UWWTP) effluent intended for human consumption. Ozonation and TiO2 photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) processes were compared for their effectiveness in terms of organic matter degradation (measured as UV absorbance at 254 nm, UV254), disinfection by products formation (measured as trihalomethanes formation potential, THMFP), and ecotoxicity (evaluated by Daphnia magna and Lepidium sativum), on secondary treated wastewater collected from a UWWTP in the province of Salerno (southern Italy). Accordingly, ozonation experiments using 28 mg/L ozone dose and PCO experiments using 250W lamp (emission range: 315–400 nm; emission peak: 14.7 lW/cm2 at 340 nm) and varying TiO2 dose from 1 to 3 g/L were carried out. Ozonation (t1/2 = 71.6 min) was not found as effective as PCO for organic matter degradation at all TiO2 doses, and 3 g/L of TiO2 was found to be the most effective photocatalyst loading (t1/2 = 41.8 min). Moreover, PCO-treated samples resulted in a lower THMFP compared to ozonation process. While ozonation did not increase toxicity to D. magna severely (10% of immobilization), PCO-treated samples exhibited varying toxicity end-points possibly due to formed oxidation intermediate products. However, Cl2 disinfection of treated wastewater samples played an improving role in toxicity of PCO-treated samples. In particular, in 30 min oxidized samples, toxicity to D. magna was decreased up to 50% (from 40 to 20% of immobilization) while germination index of L. sativum, a phytotoxicity test used for irrigation quality testing purpose, improved at 30% after Cl2 disinfection in 3 g/L of TiO2 treated sample

CHILD syndrome: The NSDHL gene and its role in CHILD syndrome, a rare hereditary disorder

Background CHILD syndrome, a rare hereditary disorder of keratinization (MIM 308050, 300275), is the acronym proposed by Happle to name a rare entity, characterized by congenital hemidysplasia, icthyosiform nevus and limb defects, ranging from digital hypoplasia to icthyosiform nevus and ipsilateral limb defects, ranging from digital hypoplasia to complete amelia. Patients and methods A 9-month-old female infant presented with skin and limb defects involving the right side of her body. Clinical and laboratory evaluation was performed, including DNA sequence analysis of the NSDHL gene. Results Our patient presented with some of the typical clinical characteristics of CHILD syndrome, i.e. two large erythematous plaques with sharp borders, covered with yellow, wax-like scaling, on the right axilla and on the right groin, dysplastic right hand and alopecia of the right occipital area. The diagnosis was confirmed by DNA screening analysis, that detected a missense mutation c.314C→T;p-A105V, in the coding region of the NSDHL gene (exon4) of our patient. Conclusions This is the first report of CHILD syndrome ever reported in Greece. We suggest that the diagnosis of the syndrome is important for patient information and genetic counselling. © 2009 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology

Application of oxidative removal of NOM to drinking water and formation of disinfection by-products

Water samples of different origins (Buyukcekmece and Omerli, Istanbul, Turkey, and Alento, Salerno, Italy) were treated by coagulation, ozonation, and coagulation followed by ozonation and photocatalysis. Disinfection by-products (DBPs) formation potential of raw and treated water samples was compared in relation to removal efficiencies by the respective treatment methods. The major DBPs, namely trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs), and other DBPs were identified and quantified. Besides major THMs and HAAs, the presence of bromoform in high amounts was also detected due to the high levels of bromide ions in raw Buyukcekmece and Omerli water samples. Depending on the natural organic matter (NOM) removal efficiencies of each treatment process, the distribution of individual THMs and HAAs was found to be NOM-site specific. Other DBPs were also detected and chloral hydrate (C2H3Cl3O2) was found in significant amounts. The responsible precursor sites could only be reduced by photocatalytic treatment of NOM. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Long-term abstinence syndrome in heroin addicts: Indices of P300 alterations associated with a short memory task

Attentional deficits have been implicated in the pathophysiology of opioid addicts. The P300 component of event-related potentials (ERPs) is considered as a manifestation of attentional operations. The authors' goal was the comparison of P300 elicited during a short memory test between subjects with prolonged heroin abstinence and current heroin users as well as healthy controls. The P300 component was evaluated during the anticipatory period of a short memory task in 20 patients characterized by a past history of opioid dependence (6 months abstinence), in 18 current heroin users and in 20 healthy comparison subjects, matched for age, sex and educational level. Abstinent heroin addicts exhibited significant reduction of P300 amplitude at central frontal region, relative to the other two groups. The findings are discussed in connection to the aim of identifying psychophysiological indices, addressing issues in opioid use disorders, and suggest that knowledge about cognitive operations, such as those reflected by P300 component, could provide further insight into psychophysiological mechanisms underlying the long-term abstinence state of heroin addicts. © 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Sun exposure behavior and protection practices in a Mediterranean population: A questionnaire-based study

Objective: Skin cancer campaigns have only recently been implemented in a wide scale in Greece. In order to better target those individuals at risk, we aimed to explore sun exposure behaviors in a sample of the Greek population. Methods: A total of 802 subjects, randomly selected among the residents of the two largest Greek cities, underwent a questionnaire-based telephone interview, assessing the degree of sun exposure patterns and knowledge of skin cancer risk factors. Results: Females more commonly (90%) used sunscreens compared with males (67.5%), and among sunscreen users, only 8% used products with SPF < 10. Almost half of the participants (48%) preferred going to the beach during the midday hours. Over exposure to the sun was mostly reported by individuals with phototypes III/IV and of younger age (18-35 years). Most participants were aware of sun exposure as a cause of skin cancer, but among those who did not, 41% were younger than 34 years of age. Conclusions: In our survey, significant differences in age, sex and phototypes were observed with regard to sun exposure patterns and sunscreen use. Educational campaigns should focus more on younger age groups, encouraging a more complete set of photoprotective measures. However, potential trial limitations inherent in self-reported measures should be taken into account. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S

Determination of the priority substances regulated by 2000/60/EC and 2008/105/EC Directives in the surface waters supplying water treatment plants of Athens, Greece

An investigation into the occurrence of priority substances regulated by 2000/60/EC Water Framework Directive and 2008/105/EC Directive was conducted for a period of one year in the surface water sources supplying the water treatment plants (WTPs) of Athens and in the raw water of WTPs. Samples from four reservoirs and four water treatment plants of Athens were taken seasonally. The substances are divided into seven specific groups, including eight volatile organic compounds (VOCs), diethylhexylphthalate, four organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), three organophosphorus/organonitrogen pesticides (OPPs/ONPs), four triazines and phenylurea herbicides, pentachlorophenol, and four metals. The aforementioned substances belong to different chemical categories, and different analytical methods were performed for their determination. The results showed that the surface waters that feed the WTPs of Athens are not burdened with significant levels of toxic substances identified as European Union (EU) priority substances. Atrazine, hexachlorocyclohexane, endosulfan, trifluralin, anthracene and 4-nonylphenol were occasionally observed at very low concentrations. Their presence in a limited number of cases could be attributed to waste disposal, agricultural activities, and to a limited industrial activity in the area nearby the water bodies. © 2017 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

Melanocortin receptor-1 gene polymorphisms and the risk of cutaneous melanoma in a low-risk southern european population

Individuals with melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) gene variants have been shown to carry an increased risk for the development of melanoma. In this study, we investigated the relationship of MC1R gene variants and the risk of melanoma in 123 melanoma patients and 155 control subjects from Greece. The entire MC1R gene was sequenced for polymorphisms and the results were correlated with host factors and pigmentary characteristics. MC1R polymorphisms were present in 59.4% of melanoma patients compared to 37.5% of controls, yielding an odds ratio (OR) of 2.43 (95% confidence interval (CI)=1.50-3.96, P<0.001) for melanoma among MC1R carriers. The risk of melanoma was enhanced in individuals carrying multiple variant alleles (OR=6.97; 95% CI=1.86-26.12, P=0.004). Only the Val60Leu, Arg142His, and Arg151Cys variants were significantly associated with melanoma risk. In stratified analysis, the risk of melanoma among MC1R carriers was not influenced by skin phototype, skin color, or hair color. No association was found between MC1R genotype and the age of onset of melanoma, the tumor location, or the tumor thickness. In conclusion, MC1R polymorphisms are a predisposing factor of melanoma in a southern European population with a relatively low incidence of the disease. © 2006 The Society for Investigative Dermatology

Innate and adaptive nasal mucosal immune responses following experimental human pneumococcal colonization

Host-parasite interactio