Levels of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and Three Organochlorine Pesticides in Fish from the Aleutian Islands of Alaska

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and chlorinated pesticides, have been shown to have many adverse human health effects. These contaminants therefore may pose a risk to Alaska Natives that follow a traditional diet high in marine mammals and fish, in which POPs bioaccumulate.This study examined the levels of PCBs and three pesticides [p, p'-DDE, mirex, and hexachlorobenzene (HCB)] in muscle tissue from nine fish species from several locations around the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. The highest median PCB level was found in rock sole (Lepidopsetta bilineata, 285 ppb, wet weight), while the lowest level was found in rock greenling (Hexagrammos lagocephalus, 104 ppb, wet weight). Lipid adjusted PCB values were also calculated and significant interspecies differences were found. Again, rock sole had the highest level (68,536 ppb, lipid weight). Concerning the PCB congener patterns, the more highly chlorinated congeners were most common as would be expected due to their greater persistence. Among the pesticides, p, p'-DDE generally dominated, and the highest level was found in sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka, 6.9 ppb, wet weight). The methodology developed by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) was used to calculate risk-based consumption limits for the analyzed fish species. For cancer health endpoints for PCBs, all species would trigger strict advisories of between two and six meals per year, depending upon species. For noncancer effects by PCBs, advisories of between seven and twenty-two meals per year were triggered. None of the pesticides triggered consumption limits.The fish analyzed, mainly from Adak, contain significant concentrations of POPs, in particular PCBs, which raises the question whether these fish are safe to eat, particularly for sensitive populations. However when assessing any risk of the traditional diet, one must also consider the many health and cultural benefits from eating fish

Prelude to Estate Planning: Helping Older Adults Simplify Their Lives Before Meeting with Professionals

Baby boomers are retiring earlier and living longer than any previous generation. With this longevity comes a resistance to begin planning for final decision wishes. Estate planning programs are widely available, but few focus on the preparation needed prior to the actual estate planning meetings. The Simplify Your Life workshop offers a prelude to estate planning by educating participants on how to simplify their possessions and financial paperwork as well as how to initiate family conversations concerning final wishes. After attending, participants are able to consolidate important personal property and paperwork and hold positive and productive final wish conversations

Erickson G: Truancy in Denver: Prevalence, effects and interventions. 2006 [http://www.schoolengage ment.org/TruancypreventionRegistry/Admin/Resources/Resources

(NCSE) is an initiative of The Colorado Foundation for Families and Children (CFFC). NCSE strives to build a network of key stakeholders who share the belief that improving school attendance and school attachment promotes achievement and school success. NCSE was established as a result of more than a decade of educational research about youth out of the educational mainstream conducted by CFFC. The impact of this work has been the development of significant investments of state funds to reduce suspensions expulsions and truancy. Over five years ago, CFFC began working with the OJJDP, US Department of Justice to assist in the planning and implementation of pilot demonstration projects across the country. As projects developed, CFFC became the national evaluator of this five-year truancy demonstration project. The culmination of ten years of program experience and research has identified truancy and school engagement as the centerpiece of NCSE’s work to improve outcomes for youth who ar

Post-Imbrium Pb–Pb isochron ages for Apollo basaltic impact melt samples 14078 and 68415

The Apollo 14 and 16 missions returned several samples commonly interpreted as crystalline impact melt, with ages of approximately 3800–3850 Ma. Previous work has suggested that these rocks formed in one or more pre-Imbrium basin forming impact(s). By contrast, recent ages determined for a range of lunar breccias provide compelling evidence that the Imbrium basin was formed at approximately 3920 Ma. Using an approach previously demonstrated in lunar basalts, Pb–Pb isochron ages are determined for two of these proposed impact melt samples (14078: 3848 ± 4 Ma; and 68415: 3834 ± 11 Ma). In the case of 14078, the least radiogenic Pb isotopic compositions measured here are interpreted as representing the initial Pb isotopic composition of the sample. This value indicates derivation from a source (or sources) with high 238U/204Pb ratios (approx. 2400), similar to those predicted for the Apollo 14 high-Al and very high-K basalts. It was not possible to determine an equivalent initial Pb isotopic composition for 68415, but Pb isotope evolution models indicate that the sample would have been derived from lithologies with lower 238U/204Pb source ratios (approx. 1000). In both cases, the samples are interpreted as having been formed by impacts local to the Apollo 14 and Apollo 16 landing sites