Влияние сернистых выбросов от целлюлозно-бумажных предприятий на здоровье населения в Светогорске в северо-западной части России

The effect of sulfur products in the air on public health was studied in 1992 to 1993. The study was a part of common Finnish Russian investigation named as “IEVA”, there was not published information in Russia about atmosphere pullution effects on health of citizens exposed to chemical wase influence. Air concentrations of stinking wastes of sulfur products and sulfur dioxide in the industrial part of Svetogorsk were controlled by non-stop measuring devices. The special questionaire was proposed for examination in citizens. It contained the query of various information about health, the appearance of sympthoms (headache, eye and nose itching, cough, and dyspnea) during 1.5 years. The questionaires were given to 1100 citizens, and 990 of the questionaires were spread in Svetogorsk. The analysed answers were obtained in 430 persons in Svetogorsk (43%) and 85 persons in Losevo (77%). The greatest instant value of total concentrations of stinking sulfur products in Svetogorsk, as well 144 mkg/m, was 3 times greater than that in Losevo. Average values of hour mean concentrations of stinking sulfur products were 5 mkg/m3 in Svetogorsk (period of 06.01 to 24.06.1992) and 12 mkg/m in Losevo (period of 21.07 to 07.11.1992). The greatest hour mean concentration of sulfur dioxide and the greatest daily value were 540 mkg/m and 125 mkg/m3 respectively in Svetogorsk, and these ones were 123 mkg/m and 33 mkg/m respectively in Losevo. During the whole study period, the mean concentration of sulfur dioxide 16 mkg/m and 10 mkg/m in Svetogorsk and Losevo respectively.Произведенное в г. Светогорске в России с 1992 г. по 1993 г. исследование для выявления влияния сернистых соединений атмосферного воздуха на здоровье населения являлось частью общего финляндско-российского исследования “ИЭВА”. В России раньше не публиковались сведения о влиянии атмосферных загрязнений на здоровье населения, подвергающегося воздействию выбросов. Концентрации дурно пахнущих сернистых соединений и двуокиси серы в промышленном городе Светогорске относительно Лосево контролировались постоянно работающими измерительными приборами. Вместе с этим среди населения распространялся специальный опросник по состоянию здоровья. В анкете запрашивалось о различных, касающихся здоровья, сведениях, о появлении симптомов (головная боль, раздражение глаз и носа, кашель и одышка) в течение прошедших 13 месяцев. Анкеты распространялись среди 1100 человек, при этом 990 анкет пришлось на территорию города Светогорска. Анализируемые ответы были получены у 430 человек в г. Светогорске (43%) и у 85 человек в п. Лосево (77%). Наибольшее моментальное значение общей концентрации дурно пахнущих сернистых соединений (ТRS) в г. Светогорске, 144 кгг/куб.м, было примерно в три раза больше, чем в п. Лосево. Средние величины часовых средних дурно пахнущих сернистых соединений в г. Светогорске были 5 мкг/куб.м (период измерения с 06.0. по 24.06.1992 г.) и в п. Лосево 12 мкг/куб.м (период измерения с 21.07. по 07.11.1992 г.). В г. Светогорске наибольшая часовая средняя концентрация двуокиси серы была 540 мкг/куб.м и наибольшая суточная величина 125 мкг/куб.м, в п. Лосево наибольшая часовая средняя была 123 мкг/куб.м и наибольшая суточная величина 33 мкг/куб.м. Во время всего периода измерения средняя величина концентрации двуокиси серы в г. Светогорске была 16 мкг/куб.м и в п. Лосево 10 мкг/куб.м

In Vitro Evolution of Allergy Vaccine Candidates, with Maintained Structure, but Reduced B Cell and T Cell Activation Capacity

Allergy and asthma to cat (Felis domesticus) affects about 10% of the population in affluent countries. Immediate allergic symptoms are primarily mediated via IgE antibodies binding to B cell epitopes, whereas late phase inflammatory reactions are mediated via activated T cell recognition of allergen-specific T cell epitopes. Allergen-specific immunotherapy relieves symptoms and is the only treatment inducing a long-lasting protection by induction of protective immune responses. The aim of this study was to produce an allergy vaccine designed with the combined features of attenuated T cell activation, reduced anaphylactic properties, retained molecular integrity and induction of efficient IgE blocking IgG antibodies for safer and efficacious treatment of patients with allergy and asthma to cat. The template gene coding for rFel d 1 was used to introduce random mutations, which was subsequently expressed in large phage libraries. Despite accumulated mutations by up to 7 rounds of iterative error-prone PCR and biopanning, surface topology and structure was essentially maintained using IgE-antibodies from cat allergic patients for phage enrichment. Four candidates were isolated, displaying similar or lower IgE binding, reduced anaphylactic activity as measured by their capacity to induce basophil degranulation and, importantly, a significantly lower T cell reactivity in lymphoproliferative assays compared to the original rFel d 1. In addition, all mutants showed ability to induce blocking antibodies in immunized mice.The approach presented here provides a straightforward procedure to generate a novel type of allergy vaccines for safer and efficacious treatment of allergic patients

Impact socio-économique du déversement de déchets toxiques à Abidjan en 2006 à l'échelle des ménages

In August 2006, toxic wastes were discharged in the district of Abidjan, causing important health consequences in many households in the area. In order to appreciate the socio-economic impact of the consequences of toxic waste discharge on the households and of the measures taken by the authorities to deal with this catastrophe, and to appreciate the spatial extent of the pollution, we undertook a multidisciplinary transversal investigation at the sites of discharge of toxic waste, from October the 19(th) to December the 8(th), 2006, using a transect sampling methodology. This paper presents the results related to the socio-economic aspects of the survey while the environmental and epidemiological results are presented in two other published papers. The socioeconomics investigation, conducted using a questionnaire, concerned 809 households across the various sites of discharge of toxic waste. More than 62% of households had at least one person who had been affected by toxic waste (affected households). 62.47% of these households were in Cocody district (with 2 sites and 4 points of discharge), 30.14% in Abobo district (with 2 sites and 3 points) and 7.39% in Koumassi district (with 1 site and 1 point). To escape the bad smell and the nuisance, 22.75% of the 501 'affected' households had left their houses. To face the health consequences generated by the toxic waste, 30.54% of the 'affected' households engaged expenses. Those were on average of 92 450 FCFA (141), with a minimum of 1 000 FCFA (1.5) and a maximum of 1500000 FCFA(2.287), in spite of the advertisement of the exemption from payment treatment fees made by the government. The decision of destroying cultures and farms near the points of discharge of the toxic products in a radius of 200 meters, taken by the authorities, touched 2.22% of the households. For these households, it did nothing but worsen their state of poverty, since the zone of influence of the toxic waste went well beyond the 200 meters prescribed by the authorities as the limit of the operations of destructio