Worlds of working poverty : Cross-national variation in the mechanisms that lead to poverty among workers

The objective of this paper is to distinguish between different types of working poverty, on the basis of the mechanisms that produce it. Whereas the poverty literature identifies a myriad of risk factors and of categories of disadvantaged workers, we focus on three immediate causes of working poverty, namely low wage rate, weak labour force attachment, and high needs, the latter mainly due to the presence of children (and sometimes to the increase in needs caused by a divorce). These three mechanisms are the channels through which macroeconomic, demographic and policy factors have a direct bearing on working households. The main assumption tested here is that welfare regimes strongly influence the relative weight of these three mechanisms in producing working poverty, and, hence, the composition of the working-poor population. Our figures confirm this hypothesis and show that low-wage employment is a key factor, but, by far, not the only one and that family policies broadly understood play a decisive role, as well as patterns of labour market participation and integration

Effect of Mercury on Membrane Proteins, Anionic Transport and Cell Morphology in Human Erythrocytes.

Mercury (Hg) is a heavy metal widespread in all environmental compartments as one of the most hazardous pollutants. Human exposure to this natural element is detrimental for several cellular types including erythrocytes (RBC) that accumulate Hg mainly bound to the SH groups of different cellular components, including protein cysteine residues. The cellular membrane represents a major target of Hg-induced damage in RBC with loss of physiological phospholipid asymmetry, due to phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure to the external membrane leaflet. To investigate Hg-induced cytotoxicity at the molecular level, the possible interaction of this heavy metal with RBC membrane proteins was investigated. Furthermore, Hg-induced alterations in band 3 protein (B3p) transport function, PS-exposing macrovesicle (MVs) formation and morphological changes were assessed. For this aim, human RBC were treated in vitro with different HgCl <sub>2</sub> concentrations (range 10-40 µM) and the electrophoretic profile of membrane proteins as well as the expression levels of Ankyrin and Flottilin-2 evaluated by SDS-PAGE and Western blot, respectively. The effect of alterations in these proteins on RBC morphology was evaluated by digital holographic microscopy and anionic transport efficiency of B3p was evaluated as sulphate uptake. Finally, PS- bearing MVs were quantified by annexin-V binding using FACS analysis. Findings presented in this paper indicate that RBC exposure to HgCl <sub>2</sub> induces modifications in the electrophoretic profile of membrane protein fraction. Furthermore, our study reveals the Hg induced alterations of specific membrane proteins, such as Ankyrin, a protein essential for membrane-cytoskeleton linkage and Flotillin-2, a major integral protein of RBC lipid rafts, likely responsible for decreased membrane stability and increased fragmentations. Accordingly, under the same experimental conditions, RBC morphological changes and PS-bearing MVs release are observed. Finally, RBC treatment significantly affects the B3p-mediated anionic transport, that we report reduced upon HgCl <sub>2</sub> treatment in a dose dependent manner. Altogether, the findings reported in this paper confirm that RBC are particularly vulnerable to Hg toxic effect and provide new insight in the Hg-induced protein modification in human RBC affecting the complex biological system of cellular membrane. In particular, Hg could induce dismantle of vertical cohesion between the plasma membrane and cytoskeleton as well as destabilization of lateral linkages of functional domains. Consequently, decreased membrane deformability could impair RBC capacity to deal with the shear forces in the circulation increasing membrane fragmentations. Furthermore, findings described in this paper have also significant implication in RBC physiology, particularly related to gas exchanges

Overfeeding, Autonomic Regulation and Metabolic Consequences

The autonomic nervous system plays an important role in the regulation of body processes in health and disease. Overfeeding and obesity (a disproportional increase of the fat mass of the body) are often accompanied by alterations in both sympathetic and parasympathetic autonomic functions. The overfeeding-induced changes in autonomic outflow occur with typical symptoms such as adiposity and hyperinsulinemia. There might be a causal relationship between autonomic disturbances and the consequences of overfeeding and obesity. Therefore studies were designed to investigate autonomic functioning in experimentally and genetically hyperphagic rats. Special emphasis was given to the processes that are involved in the regulation of peripheral energy substrate homeostasis. The data revealed that overfeeding is accompanied by increased parasympathetic outflow. Typical indices of vagal activity (such as the cephalic insulin release during food ingestion) were increased in all our rat models for hyperphagia. Overfeeding was also accompanied by increased sympathetic tone, reflected by enhanced baseline plasma norepinephrine (NE) levels in both VMH-lesioned animals and rats rendered obese by hyperalimentation. Plasma levels of NE during exercise were, however, reduced in these two groups of animals. This diminished increase in the exercise-induced NE outflow could be normalized by prior food deprivation. It was concluded from these experiments that overfeeding is associated with increased parasympathetic and sympathetic tone. In models for hyperphagia that display a continuously elevated nutrient intake such as the VMH-lesioned and the overfed rat, this increased sympathetic tone was accompanied by a diminished NE response to exercise. This attenuated outflow of NE was directly related to the size of the fat reserves, indicating that the feedback mechanism from the periphery to the central nervous system is altered in the overfed state.

Aplicación de métodos químicos y físicos en la remoción de <i>Microcystis aeruginosa</i> productora de microcistina

En Argentina y en el mundo se reportan cada vez con mayor frecuencia episodios de florecimientos cianobacterianos de Microcystis aeruginosa productora microcistinas (MCs) en reservorios que abastecen a las plantas potabilizadoras pudiendo detectarse MCs en el agua de red en niveles superiores al nivel guía de la OMS (1ppb). Es por ello que el desarrollo de tratamientos alternativos al cloro para la remoción de M. aeruginosa y sus toxinas resulta necesario como tratamientos adicionales en plantas potabilizadoras. El objetivo de este estudio consistió en evaluar oxidantes alternativos como el ácido peracético (APA), percítrico (APC) y el peróxido de hidrógeno (H2O2) y un método físico (radiación UV-C) para la remoción de M. aeruginosa y MC, utilizando la cepa autóctona CAAT-2005-3, productora de [D-Leu1]-MC-LR, en condiciones de laboratorio.Facultad de Ciencias Exacta

Aplicación de métodos químicos y físicos en la remoción de <i>Microcystis aeruginosa</i> productora de microcistina

En Argentina y en el mundo se reportan cada vez con mayor frecuencia episodios de florecimientos cianobacterianos de Microcystis aeruginosa productora microcistinas (MCs) en reservorios que abastecen a las plantas potabilizadoras pudiendo detectarse MCs en el agua de red en niveles superiores al nivel guía de la OMS (1ppb). Es por ello que el desarrollo de tratamientos alternativos al cloro para la remoción de M. aeruginosa y sus toxinas resulta necesario como tratamientos adicionales en plantas potabilizadoras. El objetivo de este estudio consistió en evaluar oxidantes alternativos como el ácido peracético (APA), percítrico (APC) y el peróxido de hidrógeno (H2O2) y un método físico (radiación UV-C) para la remoción de M. aeruginosa y MC, utilizando la cepa autóctona CAAT-2005-3, productora de [D-Leu1]-MC-LR, en condiciones de laboratorio.Facultad de Ciencias Exacta

Aplicación de métodos químicos y físicos en la remoción de <i>Microcystis aeruginosa</i> productora de microcistina

En Argentina y en el mundo se reportan cada vez con mayor frecuencia episodios de florecimientos cianobacterianos de Microcystis aeruginosa productora microcistinas (MCs) en reservorios que abastecen a las plantas potabilizadoras pudiendo detectarse MCs en el agua de red en niveles superiores al nivel guía de la OMS (1ppb). Es por ello que el desarrollo de tratamientos alternativos al cloro para la remoción de M. aeruginosa y sus toxinas resulta necesario como tratamientos adicionales en plantas potabilizadoras. El objetivo de este estudio consistió en evaluar oxidantes alternativos como el ácido peracético (APA), percítrico (APC) y el peróxido de hidrógeno (H2O2) y un método físico (radiación UV-C) para la remoción de M. aeruginosa y MC, utilizando la cepa autóctona CAAT-2005-3, productora de [D-Leu1]-MC-LR, en condiciones de laboratorio.Facultad de Ciencias Exacta

Fish consumption patterns and hair mercury levels in children and their mothers in 17 EU countries

The toxicity of methylmercury (MeHg) in humans is well established and the main source of exposure is via the consumption of large marine fish and mammals. Of particular concern are the potential neurodevelopmental effects of early life exposure to low-levels of MeHg. Therefore, it is important that pregnant women, children and women of childbearing age are, as far as possible, protected from MeHg exposure.Within the European project DEMOCOPHES, we have analyzed mercury (Hg) in hair in 1799 mother–child pairs from 17 European countries using a strictly harmonized protocol for mercury analysis. Parallel, harmonized questionnaires on dietary habits provided information on consumption patterns of fish and marine products. After hierarchical cluster analysis of consumption habits of the mother–child pairs, the DEMOCOPHES cohort can be classified into two branches of approximately similar size: one with high fish consumption (H) and another with low consumption (L). All countries have representatives in both branches, but Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Portugal and Sweden have twice as many or more mother–child pairs in H than in L. For Switzerland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia the situation is the opposite, with more representatives in L than H.There is a strong correlation (r=0.72) in hair mercury concentration between the mother and child in the same family, which indicates that they have a similar exposure situation. The clustering of mother–child pairs on basis of their fish consumption revealed some interesting patterns. One is that for the same sea fish consumption, other food items of marine origin, like seafood products or shellfish, contribute significantly to the mercury levels in hair. We conclude that additional studies are needed to assess and quantify exposure to mercury from seafood products, in particular. The cluster analysis also showed that 95% of mothers who consume once per week fish only, and no other marine products, have mercury levels 0.55 µg/g. Thus, the 95th percentile of the distribution in this group is only around half the US-EPA recommended threshold of 1 µg/g mercury in hair. Consumption of freshwater fish played a minor role in contributing to mercury exposure in the studied cohort.The DEMOCOPHES data shows that there are significant differences in MeHg exposure across the EU and that exposure is highly correlated with consumption of fish and marine products. Fish and marine products are key components of a healthy human diet and are important both traditionally and culturally in many parts of Europe. Therefore, the communication of the potential risks of mercury exposure needs to be carefully balanced to take into account traditional and cultural values as well as the potential health benefits from fish consumption. European harmonized human biomonitoring programs provide an additional dimension to national HMB programs and can assist national authorities to tailor mitigation and adaptation strategies (dietary advice, risk communication, etc.) to their country’s specific requirements

Detección de Glifosato y AMPA en suelos del área agrícola de Entre Ríos y la valoración de efectos en matrices biológicas

Se evaluaron residuos de glifosato en muestras de suelo y rastrojo de los lotes Los Hermanitos y Alberdi (Argiudol vértico y Argiudol ácuico) de la provincia de Entre Ríos y se determinó el efecto biológico como una aproximación al estudio de contaminantes originados por la producción agrícola. Se determinó la concentración del herbicida, se realizaron relevamientos de oligoquetos y ensayos de toxicidad con Eisenia fétida y se aplicaron bioensayos de germinación con especies sensibles. Se detectó glifosato y ácido aminometilfosfónico (AMPA) en los suelos estudiados durante las campañas 2015 – 2017, alcanzando concentraciones máximas de 222 ppb y 620 ppb, respectivamente. Se observó relación lineal negativa entre la Capacidad de Intercambio Catiónico y el contenido de glifosato en los suelos estudiados, con dependencia de la relación encontrada entre el contenido de materia orgánica y el contenido de herbicida hallado. Cuando se utilizó rastrojo como sustrato&nbsp;&nbsp; en los bioensayos con lechuga y tomate, se detectó fitotoxicidad en uno de los lotes. La mayor abundancia de especies de lombricesse registró en el lote Alberdi (5 especies) y de los sitios de referencia, se destacó el correspondiente a Los Hermanitos (6 especies). La biomasa y densidad presentaron variaciones en los sitios agrícolas para cada campaña, como así también en la cantidad de juveniles y el número de adultos

First steps toward harmonized human biomonitoring in Europe : demonstration project to perform human biomonitoring on a European scale

'Reproduced with permission from Environmental Health Perspectives'Background: For Europe as a whole, data on internal exposure to environmental chemicals do not yet exist. Characterization of the internal individual chemical environment is expected to enhance understanding of the environmental threats to health. Objectives: We developed and applied a harmonized protocol to collect comparable human biomonitoring data all over Europe. Methods: In 17 European countries, we measured mercury in hair and cotinine, phthalate metabolites, and cadmium in urine of 1,844 children (5–11 years of age) and their mothers. Specimens were collected over a 5-month period in 2011–2012. We obtained information on personal characteristics, environment, and lifestyle. We used the resulting database to compare concentrations of exposure biomarkers within Europe, to identify determinants of exposure, and to compare exposure biomarkers with healthbased guidelines. Results: Biomarker concentrations showed a wide variability in the European population. However, levels in children and mothers were highly correlated. Most biomarker concentrations were below the health-based guidance values. Conclusions: We have taken the first steps to assess personal chemical exposures in Europe as a whole. Key success factors were the harmonized protocol development, intensive training and capacity building for field work, chemical analysis and communication, as well as stringent quality control programs for chemical and data analysis. Our project demonstrates the feasibility of a Europe-wide human biomonitoring framework to support the decision-making process of environmental measures to protect public health.The research leading to these results received funding for the COPHES project (COnsortium to Perform Human biomonitoring on a European Scale) from the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme [FP7/2007–2013] under grant agreement 244237. DEMOCOPHES (DEMOnstration of a study to COordinate and Perform Human biomonitoring on a European Scale) was co-funded (50%:50%) by the European Commission LIFE+ Programme (LIFE09/ENV/BE/000410) and the partners. For information on both projects as well as on the national co-funding institutions, see http://www.eu-hbm.info/. The sponsors had no role in the study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation or writing of the report