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International Journal of Hygiene and... Mar 2020There is an increasing use of so-called emerging substances or substances of emerging concern. These terms describe, inter alia, the replacement of commonly used... (Review)
Review
There is an increasing use of so-called emerging substances or substances of emerging concern. These terms describe, inter alia, the replacement of commonly used chemicals in formulations by supposedly less harmful chemicals. A well-known example is the shift from DEHP to higher molecular weight phthalates and later the shift from phthalates to DINCH, adipates, terephthalates, etc. Similar trends can be observed in the case of solvents and flame retardants. Over the years, new compound groups such as perfluorocarbons, UV-filters, synthetic musks, parabens, siloxanes, neonicotinoids and drug residues also appeared on the scene. Today, however, the term "emerging substances" has to be defined much more broadly as regards the indoor environment. As a result of the extensive measures for energy-related renovation, contaminated waste products such as asbestos, PCBs, PAHs and PCNs are once again forming the focus of attention as re-emerging chemicals. Many relevant compounds, in particular reaction products, were unknown until recently due to the fact, that they can only now be detected using highly sensitive methods. Furthermore, already known chemicals attract scientific and public interest through reclassification or through the derivation of indoor guideline and reference values. The classical way of monitoring emerging compounds is air and dust analysis and therefore, the spectrum of analytical techniques needs to be continuously broadened. However, there is also a demand for human biomarkers, preferably in urine. A further important aspect is the post-hoc analysis of house dust and urine samples, which are stored in environmental specimen banks. The identification and temporal tracking of emerging chemicals is thereby enabled. It is strongly recommended to take advantage of the possibilities resulting from the combination of classical interior analytics and human biomonitoring to promptly detect emerging pollutants and chemicals of concern.
Topics: Air Pollutants; Air Pollution, Indoor; Dust; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Pollutants; Environmental Pollution; Flame Retardants; Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; Housing; Humans; Phthalic Acids; Polychlorinated Biphenyls; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
PubMed: 31978722
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2019.113423 -
Tobacco Control Nov 2020The distribution of nicotine among its free-base (fb) and protonated forms in aerosolised nicotine affects inhalability. It has been manipulated in tobacco smoke and now...
INTRODUCTION
The distribution of nicotine among its free-base (fb) and protonated forms in aerosolised nicotine affects inhalability. It has been manipulated in tobacco smoke and now in electronic cigarettes by the use of acids to de-freebase nicotine and form 'nicotine salts'.
METHODS
Measurements on electronic cigarette fluids (e-liquids) were carried out to determine (1) the fraction of nicotine in the free-base form () and (2) the levels of organic acid(s) and nicotine. Samples included JUUL 'pods', 'look-a-like/knock-off' pods and some bottled 'nicotine salt' and 'non-salt' e-liquids.
RESULTS
= 0.12 ±0.01 at 40°C (≈ 37°C) for 10 JUUL products, which contain benzoic acid; nicotine protonation is extensive but incomplete.
DISCUSSION
First-generation e-liquids have ≈ 1. At cigarette-like total nicotine concentration (Nic) values of ~60 mg/mL, e-liquid aerosol droplets with ≈ 1 are harsh upon inhalation. The design evolution for e-liquids has paralleled that for smoked tobacco, giving a 'déjà vu' trajectory for . For 17th-century 'air-cured' tobacco, in the smoke particles was likely ≥ 0.5. The product Nic in the smoke particles was high. 'Flue-curing' retains higher levels of leaf sugars, which are precursors for organic acids in tobacco smoke, resulting in ≈ 0.02 and lowered harshness. Some tobacco cigarette formulations/designs have been adjusted to restore some nicotine sensory 'kick/impact' with ≈ 0.1, as for Marlboro. Overall, for tobacco smoke, the de-freebasing trajectory was ≥ 0.5 → ~0 →~0.1, as compared with = ~1 →~0.1 for e-cigarettes. For JUUL, the result has been, perhaps, an optimised, flavoured nicotine delivery system. The design evolution for e-cigarettes has made them more effective as substitutes to get smokers off combustibles. However, this evolution has likely made e-cigarette products vastly more addictive for never-smokers.
Topics: Aerosols; Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems; Humans; Nicotine; Smoke; Nicotiana; Tobacco Products
PubMed: 31848312
DOI: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2019-055275 -
Fertility and Sterility Dec 2019
Topics: Aneuploidy; Embryo Transfer; Genetic Testing; Humans; Patient Selection; Prognosis
PubMed: 31843076
DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2019.08.102 -
Kardiologia Polska Sep 2019
Topics: Coronary Artery Disease; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Twins, Monozygotic
PubMed: 31354163
DOI: 10.33963/KP.14910 -
Atherosclerosis Aug 2019
Topics: Humans; Ischemia; Plaque, Atherosclerotic; White Matter
PubMed: 31213292
DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2019.05.021 -
Brain and Behavior May 2019
PubMed: 31094080
DOI: 10.1002/brb3.1299 -
The Science of the Total Environment Jun 2019Today the vast majority of commercial laboratories are accredited. Quality control (QC) results are documented and, upon request, available to the customer. That has led...
Today the vast majority of commercial laboratories are accredited. Quality control (QC) results are documented and, upon request, available to the customer. That has led many customers of analytical services to neglect the need for their own, laboratory independent, external QC for large geochemical mapping or monitoring projects. Here, based on recent examples from projects of the Geological Survey of Norway, it is demonstrated how such an external QC procedure should look. Simple graphics are used to visualize QC results. R scripts for producing these graphics are provided. Despite of the laboratories' own internal QC procedures, a number of quality issues like time trends, sample mix-ups, concentration breaks between different batches due to the use of several instruments and excessive rounding of analytical results were detected. Thus, even in these times of accreditation, it is still a necessity to install project-level, laboratory independent, QC procedures in order to produce reliable and comparable datasets.
PubMed: 30903889
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.03.185 -
Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience Sep 2018A crisis of confidence was triggered by the disappointment that diagnostic validity, an important goal, was not achieved with the publication of . The Research Domain... (Review)
Review
A crisis of confidence was triggered by the disappointment that diagnostic validity, an important goal, was not achieved with the publication of . The Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) project, which provides a framework for neuroscientific research, was initially conceptualized as an alternative to . However, RDoC and are complementary rather than mutually exclusive. From a historical perspective, this article argues that the debate opposing psychology and brain in psychiatric classification is not new and has an air of déjà vu. We go back to the first classifications based on a scientific taxonomy in the late 18th century with Boissier de Sauvages, which were supposed to describe diseases as they really existed in nature. Emil Kraepelin successfully associated psychopathology and brain research, prefiguring the interaction between and RDoC. DSM symptoms remain valuable because they are the only data that are immediately and directly observable. Computational science is a promising instrument to interconnect psychopathological and neuroscientific data in the future.
Topics: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; History, 18th Century; History, 19th Century; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Humans; Mental Disorders; Neurosciences; Psychiatry; Psychopathology
PubMed: 30581284
DOI: 10.31887/DCNS.2018.20.3/macrocq -
The Journal of Thoracic and... Sep 2018
Topics: Humans; Incidence; Sternum; Vancomycin; Wound Infection
PubMed: 30119280
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2018.04.067 -
Psychiatria Danubina Jun 2018
PubMed: 29930233
DOI: 10.24869/psyd.2018.220