Field intercomparison on the determination of volatile and semivolatile polyfluorinated compounds in air

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annekatrin Dreyer ◽  
Mahiba Shoeib ◽  
Stefan Fiedler ◽  
Jon Barber ◽  
Tom Harner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polyurethane Foam ◽  
High Volume ◽  
Passive Samplers ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Sampling Strategies ◽  
Monitoring Methods ◽  
Semipermeable Membrane Devices ◽  
Polyfluorinated Compounds

Environmental context.Polyfluorinated compounds are an emerging group of organic pollutants that are globally distributed in urban and natural environments. Reliable air monitoring methods are crucial to our understanding of how these pollutants are released to, and transported in, the atmosphere. This intercomparison study, involving laboratories that investigate polyfluorinated compounds in air, uncovers inconsistencies in the reported data, and highlights necessary analytical improvements for future research projects. Abstract.Fluorotelomer alcohols, perfluorinated sulfonamides or sulfonamido ethanols are volatile precursors of persistent perfluorinated acids. Published air-sampling strategies and analytical methods to determine these compounds differ. To assess performance on the determination of airborne polyfluorinated compounds, an intercomparison comprising four international research groups was established. Instrumental and analytical comparability between laboratories varied depending on the compound class. Variability in different sampling strategies was assessed for active (high-volume) v. passive samplers consisting of either semipermeable membrane devices or sorbent-impregnated polyurethane foam disks. Results from passive samplers were typically within an order of magnitude of air concentrations from averaged continuous high-volume samples. Smallest deviations (passive v. active) were observed for sorbent-impregnated polyurethane foam disk samplers with best agreement for fluorotelomer alcohols. This study reveals that it is important to be aware of several types of uncertainty or error for the determination of airborne polyfluorinated compounds and report data in this context or to take steps to minimise their impact.

scholarly journals The Socioeconomic Welfare of Urban Green Areas and Parks; A Literature Review of Available Evidence

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 7863
Author(s):  
Antonios Kolimenakis ◽  
Alexandra D. Solomou ◽  
Nikolaos Proutsos ◽  
Evangelia V. Avramidou ◽  
Evangelia Korakaki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Urban Policy ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Exclusion Criteria ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
Urban Green Areas ◽  
Green Areas

Urban green areas present a lucid example for the harmonious co-existence of the artificial and natural environments best illustrated by their interdependence and interconnection in urban spaces. Urban green areas are essential for the health and wellbeing of citizens. The present study aimed to investigate those multiple benefits for citizens that arise through the existence of urban green areas, as well as important policy dimensions that should be considered when designing the expansion of urban green spaces in urban development. The study was based on a literature review to examine for available evidence on the benefit levels derived by the existence of urban green areas. An extended literature review was followed by a structured review, based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, which partly followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The search was conducted in two databases, and a total of 1674 articles and abstracts were identified through the database searches. After removing 114 duplicates, 1560 records were initially screened based on title and abstract. Following inclusion and exclusion criteria, 14 articles were incorporated in the structured review and a total of 47 in the extended review. The extended literature review identified 33 additional articles examining aspects of benefits that did not fall under the pre-established inclusion and exclusion criteria used in the structured review, such as health benefits and other social parameters associated with urban green spaces. The selected studies were allocated in five principal groups according to study types: three of the them consisted of studies employing “willingness to pay” (WTP) methods, five were based on property values, two studies assigned monetary values, while another two assigned CO2 values, and, finally, two studies were based on qualitative criteria. The results indicated benefits to citizens and increased welfare levels gained by the existence of urban green areas. The conducted review revealed a number of findings and recommendations that could direct future research and urban policy. Those hints could assist local authorities as well as stakeholders in order to measure and assess the benefits of green spaces and urban parks and promote measures and programs to assist their further deployment.

scholarly journals The Clean pilot study: evaluation of an environmental hygiene intervention bundle in three Tanzanian hospitals

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Giorgia Gon ◽  
Abdunoor M. Kabanywanyi ◽  
Petri Blinkhoff ◽  
Simon Cousens ◽  
Stephanie J. Dancer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Study Design ◽  
Low Income ◽  
High Volume ◽  
Surface Cleaning ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Training Period ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Environmental Hygiene ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Healthcare associated infections (HAI) are estimated to affect up to 15% of hospital inpatients in low-income countries (LICs). A critical but often neglected aspect of HAI prevention is basic environmental hygiene, particularly surface cleaning and linen management. TEACH CLEAN is an educational intervention aimed at improving environmental hygiene. We evaluated the effectiveness of this intervention in a pilot study in three high-volume maternity and newborn units in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Methods This study design prospectively evaluated the intervention as a whole, and offered a before-and-after comparison of the impact of the main training. We measured changes in microbiological cleanliness [Aerobic Colony Counts (ACC) and presence of Staphylococcus aureus] using dipslides, and physical cleaning action using gel dots. These were analysed with descriptive statistics and logistic regression models. We used qualitative (focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, and semi-structured observation) and quantitative (observation checklist) tools to measure why and how the intervention worked. We describe these findings across the themes of adaptation, fidelity, dose, reach and context. Results Microbiological cleanliness improved during the study period (ACC pre-training: 19%; post-training: 41%). The odds of cleanliness increased on average by 1.33 weekly during the pre-training period (CI = 1.11–1.60), and by 1.08 (CI = 1.03–1.13) during the post-training period. Cleaning action improved only in the pre-training period. Detection of S. aureus on hospital surfaces did not change substantially. The intervention was well received and considered feasible in this context. The major pitfalls in the implementation were the limited number of training sessions at the hospital level and the lack of supportive supervision. A systems barrier to implementation was lack of regular cleaning supplies. Conclusions The evaluation suggests that improvements in microbiological cleanliness are possible using this intervention and can be sustained. Improved microbiological cleanliness is a key step on the pathway to infection prevention in hospitals. Future research should assess whether this bundle is cost-effective in reducing bacterial and viral transmission and infection using a rigorous study design.

scholarly journals Exploring Secondary Metabolite Profiles of Stachybotrys spp. by LC-MS/MS

Toxins ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annika Jagels ◽  
Viktoria Lindemann ◽  
Sebastian Ulrich ◽  
Christoph Gottschalk ◽  
Benedikt Cramer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Metabolites ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Structural Modifications ◽  
Metabolite Profiles ◽  
The Individual ◽  
First Time ◽  
Analytical Standards ◽  
Respective Species

The genus Stachybotrys produces a broad diversity of secondary metabolites, including macrocyclic trichothecenes, atranones, and phenylspirodrimanes. Although the class of the phenylspirodrimanes is the major one and consists of a multitude of metabolites bearing various structural modifications, few investigations have been carried out. Thus, the presented study deals with the quantitative determination of several secondary metabolites produced by distinct Stachybotrys species for comparison of their metabolite profiles. For that purpose, 15 of the primarily produced secondary metabolites were isolated from fungal cultures and structurally characterized in order to be used as analytical standards for the development of an LC-MS/MS multimethod. The developed method was applied to the analysis of micro-scale extracts from 5 different Stachybotrys strains, which were cultured on different media. In that process, spontaneous dialdehyde/lactone isomerization was observed for some of the isolated secondary metabolites, and novel stachybotrychromenes were quantitatively investigated for the first time. The metabolite profiles of Stachybotrys species are considerably influenced by time of growth and substrate availability, as well as the individual biosynthetic potential of the respective species. Regarding the reported adverse effects associated with Stachybotrys growth in building environments, combinatory effects of the investigated secondary metabolites should be addressed and the role of the phenylspirodrimanes re-evaluated in future research.

A Systematic Review of Replicative Self-Determination Intervention Studies

2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-39
Author(s):  
John L. Luckner ◽  
Rashida Banerjee ◽  
Sara Movahedazarhouligh ◽  
Kaitlyn Millen
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Intervention Studies ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Replication Studies ◽  
Research Designs ◽  
Replication Research ◽  
Quality Of Research

Current federal legislation emphasizes the use of programs, interventions, strategies, and activities that have been demonstrated through research to be effective. One way to increase the quantity and quality of research that guides practice is to conduct replication research. The purpose of this study was to undertake a systematic review of the replication research focused on self-determination conducted between 2007 and 2017. Using methods used by Cook and colleagues, we identified 80 intervention studies on topics related to self-determination, of which 31 were coded as replications. Intervention study trends, rate of replication studies, percentage of agreements between findings of original and replication studies, amount of author overlap, and types of research designs used are reported along with recommendations for future research.

scholarly journals Effects of room airflow on accurate determination of PUF-PAS sampling rates in the indoor environment

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 757-766 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas J. Herkert ◽  
Keri C. Hornbuckle
Keyword(s):  
Indoor Air ◽  
Indoor Environment ◽  
Accurate Determination ◽  
Passive Samplers ◽  
Air Toxics ◽  
Precise Interpretation

Accurate and precise interpretation of concentrations from polyurethane passive samplers (PUF-PAS) is important as more studies show elevated concentrations of PCBs and other semivolatile air toxics in indoor air of schools and homes.

Developments in mycotoxin analysis: an update for 2015-2016

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Berthiller ◽  
C. Brera ◽  
M.H. Iha ◽  
R. Krska ◽  
V.M.T. Lattanzio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Liquid Chromatography ◽  
Critical Review ◽  
Analytical Methods ◽  
Ergot Alkaloids ◽  
Sampling Strategies ◽  
Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Mycotoxin Analysis

This review summarises developments in the determination of mycotoxins over a period between mid-2015 and mid-2016. Analytical methods to determine aflatoxins, Alternaria toxins, ergot alkaloids, fumonisins, ochratoxins, patulin, trichothecenes and zearalenone are covered in individual sections. Advances in proper sampling strategies are discussed in a dedicated section, as are methods used to analyse botanicals and spices and newly developed liquid chromatography mass spectrometry based multi-mycotoxin methods. This critical review aims to briefly discuss the most important recent developments and trends in mycotoxin determination as well as to address limitations of presented methodologies.

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