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PubMed2001

Separation and determination of homologues of linear alkylbenzenesulfonates by nonaqueous capillary zone electrophoresis using alkylammonium salts in ethanol.

The separation of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) by nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis (NACE) using negative polarity, and a buffer containing acetic acid and an alkylamine in nonaqueous ethanol, has been investigated. Several primary, secondary, and tertiary alkylamines with alkyl chains of different length were compared. The solutes travelled against the electroosmotic flow (EOF), and at the same time were braked by association with the alkylamine molecules or with the alkylammonium ions. The best resolution between adjacent LAS homologues (R approximately 2.1), partial isomer resolution in two peaks, and at the same time an excellent repeatability, was obtained with a small dipentylamine excess over the acetic acid. When the buffer concentration increased, resolution between the homologues increased slightly (R approximately 2.4), and a different isomer group was partially separated. A background electrolyte (BGE) containing 10 mM acetic acid and 20 mM dipentylamine to separate and quantify the homologues within 25 min is recommended. The isomer peak profile with up to three peaks can be estimated using this buffer and another one with 80 mM acetic acid and 90 mM dipentylamine. The former BGE was used to determine LAS in liquid and powder laundry detergents. The detection limit for the determination of total LAS in these products was 2.5 microg mL(-1), and the peak area and migration time interday repeatabilities were below 4.3 and 2.8%, respectively.

Alkanesulfonic Acids↗
PubMed2005

Morbidity and mortality from hazardous materials events in the personal services industry, 1993-2001: a follow-up report from the Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance (HSEES) system.

BACKGROUND: An estimated 8% of acute hazardous materials (HazMat) events that occur annually in the United States involve victims. Little information is available in the literature pinpointing which industries are associated with these acute events. METHODS: Data from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry's Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance (HSEES) system were analyzed to determine which industry categories had the highest proportion of events with victims. These data were collected from 17 state health departments that participated in the HSEES system from 1993 through 2001. RESULTS: During 1993 through 2001, 53,142 HazMat events occurred, of which 51,989 involved actual releases. Of these events with actual releases, 4,324 (8.3%) involved victims. Of the 14 major industrial categories analyzed, personal services-with 1,311 total events, including 468 with victims-had the highest major industrial category proportion of events with victims (35.7%). This high proportion of events with victims was associated mainly with the following three personal services subcategories: private households; laundry, cleaning, and garment services; and hotels and motels. Most of the victims injured in personal services events involved members of the general public. The most frequently reported symptom was respiratory irritation. The causal factors leading to most releases were operator error, followed by deliberate/illegal damage. CONCLUSIONS: Targeting the personal services industries with appropriate prevention strategies may be an effective way to help begin reducing the high proportion of events with victims in this category.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Pesticide safety behaviors in Latino farmworker family households.

BACKGROUND: Studies to assess pesticide exposure of individuals living in agricultural settings suggest that farmworkers create a "take-home" pathway from the fields to the home that increases exposure risk for non-farmworker household members. METHODS: A survey was conducted with 142 Latino women in farmworker family households in North Carolina to identify predictors of adherence to pesticide safety behaviors that may affect take-home exposure risk. Behaviors included changing work clothes before entering the house, storing and washing contaminated work clothes separately from family clothing, and showering upon returning home. RESULTS: The number of farmworkers in the household was negatively associated with adherence to recommended changing, storing, and showering behaviors. Most workers followed recommended laundry procedures for work clothes. CONCLUSIONS: Results support existing evidence for a take-home pathway for pesticide residues in homes with several farmworkers. Pesticide safety education needs to reinforce behaviors that reduce take-home exposure in farmworker households.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2007

Industrial sectors with high risk of women's hospital-treated injuries.

BACKGROUND: Women's occupational injury rates are converging with those of males. Associations between female workers' hospital treated injury rates, industrial sector and injured body area were analyzed to provide for better-focused injury prevention of women's hazardous jobs. METHODS: Females' standardized hospital treatment ratios (SHR) and the excess fraction for five body regions (head/neck, thorax, back, upper and lower extremities) were calculated for 58 industrial sectors for 1999-2003. RESULTS: Five industrial sectors, "Cleaning, laundries and dry cleaners," "Transport of passengers," "Hotels and restaurants," "Hospitals" and "Transport of goods" had significantly high SHRs for all five body regions. The excess fraction for upper extremity injuries revealed that 14%-27% of injuries could theoretically have been avoided. CONCLUSIONS: There is strong evidence for an association between women's hospital treated injuries and industrial sector. The results justify the need for gender-sensitive analyses to orient injury prevention programs.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Leukemia incidence by occupation in the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area.

During a 15-year period in an urban area with over a million inhabitants, we identified 1,678 cases of leukemia among residents aged 16 or older. Case finding was done according to the methods of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) SEER program. Usual occupation was coded by a system based on the U.S. Census Bureau classification. According to age-standardized incidence rates for persons aged 16-67, significant excess leukemia risks were found for 14 male and 8 female occupation categories, with the larger number of male excess risk situations due to nonlymphatic leukemia. Lymphatic leukemia risks were significantly elevated among dentists, school teachers of both sexes, auto mechanics, gas station attendants, female assembly workers, and female laundry and dry cleaning workers. Nonlymphatic leukemia risks were significantly elevated among machinists, other metal tradesmen, heavy equipment operators, textile operatives, meat cutters, cannery workers, construction laborers, freight and stock handlers, policemen, and firemen. Risks of both types of leukemia were significantly elevated among registered and practical nurses and lumber mill workers. This study has not identified specific etiologic agents and exposures, but applied investigations aimed at disease control by prevention of cases are now possible in this community. Nationwide surveillance and control are recommended.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Allergic asthma to Bacillus subtilis enzyme: a model for the effects of inhalable proteins.

The passage of 24 years since the diagnosis of allergic asthma in heavily exposed workers and in a few consumers due to dusty enzyme preparations of Bacillus subtilis compounded with laundry powder makes it possible to review objectively the many problems it raised. It emphasizes the lessons to be learned, relevant to inhalable enzyme products and to other inhalable proteins in general. Occupational allergic respiratory diseases were little studied at the time and the enzyme problems stimulated interest in what has now become a well-established and important field of medicine involving not only protein allergens but low molecular weight chemicals as well.

Asthma↗
PubMed2007

Recent progress in engineering alpha/beta hydrolase-fold family members.

The members of the alpha/beta hydrolase-fold family represent a functionally versatile group of enzymes with many important applications in biocatalysis. Given the technical significance of alpha/beta hydrolases in processes ranging from the kinetic resolution of enantiomeric precursors for pharmaceutical compounds to bulk products such as laundry detergent, optimizing and tailoring enzymes for these applications presents an ongoing challenge to chemists, biochemists, and engineers alike. A review of the recent literature on alpha/beta hydrolase engineering suggests that the early successes of "random processes" such as directed evolution are now being slowly replaced by more hypothesis-driven, focused library approaches. These developments reflect a better understanding of the enzymes' structure-function relationship and improved computational resources, which allow for more sophisticated search and prediction algorithms, as well as, in a very practical sense, the realization that bigger is not always better.

Epoxide Hydrolases↗
PubMed2005

Morphological irregularities and features of resistance to apoptosis in the dcp-1/pita double mutated egg chambers during Drosophila oogenesis.

In the present study, we demonstrate the most novel characteristic morphological features of Drosophila egg chambers lacking both dcp-1 and pita functions in the germline cells. Dcp-1 is an effector caspase and it has been previously shown to play an important role during Drosophila oogenesis [McCall and Steller, 1998 : Science 279 : 230-234; Laundrie et al., 2003 : Genetics 165 : 1881-1888; Peterson et al., 2003 : Dev Biol 260 : 113-123]. The completion of sequencing and annotation of the Drosophila genome has revealed that the dcp-1 gene is nested within an intron of another distinct gene, called pita, a member of the C2H2 zinc finger protein family that regulates transcriptional initiation. The dcp-1(-/-)/pita(-/-) nurse cells exhibit euchromatic nuclei (delay of apoptosis) during the late stages of oogenesis, as revealed by conventional light and electron microscopy. The phalloidin-FITC staining discloses significant defects in actin cytoskeleton arrangement. The actin bundles fail to organize properly and the distribution of actin filaments in the ring canals is changed compared to the wild type. The oocyte and the chorion structures have been also modified. The oocyte nucleus is out of position and the chorion appears to contain irregular foldings, while the respiratory filaments obtain an altered morphology. The dcp-1(-/-)/pita(-/-) egg chambers do not exhibit the rare events of spontaneously induced apoptosis, observed for the wild type flies, during mid-oogenesis. Interestingly, the mutated egg chambers are protected by staurosporine-induced apoptosis in a percentage of 40%, strongly suggesting the essential role of dcp-1 and/or pita during mid-oogenesis.

Actins↗
PubMed1985

Increased mutagenicity of chromium compounds by nitrilotriacetic acid.

Nitrilotriacetic acid trisodium salt (NTA), which is a substitute for polyphosphates in household laundry detergents, and N-nitrosoiminodiacetic acid (NIDA), a derivative of NTA produced by metabolism of soil microorganisms, were tested for in vitro mutagenicity in bacteria and yeasts. No gene reversions in five strains of Salmonella typhimurium (TA 1535, TA1537, TA1538, TA98, and TA100), no forward gene mutations in Schizosaccharomyces pombe P1, and no mitotic gene conversions at two loci in Saccharomyces cerevisiae D4 were induced by NTA (up to 870 micrograms/plate or 40 micrograms/ml) and NIDA (up to 2,000 micrograms/plate or 1,000 micrograms/ml), independently of the presence of rat liver metabolic activation. The influence of NTA on the mutagenic and clastogenic activity of several chromium compounds was examined in the Salmonella/microsome assay and in the sister chromatid exchange (SCE) assay in mammalian cell cultures (Chinese hamster ovary [CHO] line). NTA does not affect the genetic inactivity of water-soluble Cr(III) (Cr2[SO4]3) and the direct mutagenicity of soluble Cr(VI) (Na2CrO4,K2Cr2O7) compounds. The very insoluble Cr(VI) compounds PbCrO4 and PbCrO4 X PbO are instead clearly mutagenic in the Salmonella/microsome assay (TA100 strain) only in the presence of NTA or NaOH. The mutagenicity of lead chromates is correlated with the amounts of Cr(VI) solubilized by NTA or alkali, as detected by the colorimetric reaction with diphenylcarbazide and atomic absorption spectrophotometry. In the SCE assay, the insoluble lead chromates are directly clastogenic owing to prolonged treatment conditions and cellular endocytosis. The chromosome-damaging activity of PbCrO4 is significantly increased by NTA but not by NaOH.

Acetates↗
PubMed2006

Twenty-first century learning in schools: A case study of New Technology High School in Napa, California.

The most pertinent question concerning teaching and learning in the twenty-first century is not what knowledge and skills students need--that laundry list was identified over a decade ago--but rather how to foster twenty-first century learning. What curricula, experiences, assessments, environments, and technology best support twenty-first century learning? New Technology High School (NTHS) in Napa, California, is one example of a successful twenty-first century school. In this chapter, the author describes the components of this exemplary high school, illustrating an environment that will cultivate twenty-first century student learning. New Technology High School began by defining eight learning outcomes, aligned with the standards of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills; to graduate, students demonstrate mastery of these outcomes through an online portfolio. To help students achieve the outcomes, NTHS employs project- and problem-based learning. Whereas in traditional classrooms students work alone on short-term assignments that do not lend themselves to deep understanding, the project-based learning approach has students working in teams on long-term, in-depth, rigorous projects. Students' work is supported by the school's workplace-like environment and effectiv use of technology. Meaningful assessment is essential to project-based learning; students receive continuous feedback, helping them become self-directed learners. In fact, NTHS uses outcome-based grading through which students constantly know how they are performing on the twenty-first century outcomes. Research has shown that NTHS graduates are better prepared for postsecondary education, careers, and citizenship than their peers from other schools. To facilitate twenty-first century learning, all schools need to rethink their approach to teaching and learning. New Technology High School is one way to do so.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Purification and mode of action of an alkali-resistant endo-1, 4-beta-glucanase from Bacillus pumilus.

Alkaline endo-1,4-beta-d-glucanase was secreted by Bacillus pumilus grown in submerged culture on a combination of oat spelt xylan and corn starch as carbon sources. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity by Sephacryl S-200 and Q-Sepharose column chromatography. The protein corresponded to molecular mass and pI values of 67 kDa and 3.7, respectively. The enzyme was optimally active at pH 7.0-8.0 and 60 degrees C and retained 50% of its optimum activity at pH 12. The most notable characteristic of the endoglucanase was its high stability up to pH 12 for 20 h at 30 degrees C. The enzyme hydrolyzed carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and cello-oligosaccharides but was inactive on cellobiose, cellotriose, Avicel, xylan, 4-nitrophenyl-beta-d-glucoside, 4-nitrophenyl-beta-d-cellobioside, and 4-nitrophenyl-beta-d-xyloside. Analysis of reaction mixtures by HPLC revealed that the enzyme produced almost exclusively cellotriose when acted on CMC and appeared to hydrolyze cello-oligosaccharides by successively releasing cellotriose. The use of 4-methylumbelliferyl cello-oligosaccharides and the determination of bond cleavage frequency revealed that the enzyme preferentially hydrolyzed the third glycosidic bond adjacent to the glycon. The enzyme mediated a decrease in the viscosity of CMC associated with a release of only small amounts of reducing sugar. The enzyme activity was not inhibited by metal ions, surfactants, and chelating agents used as components of laundry detergents.

Alkalies↗
PubMed2000

Antioxidant biomarkers in freshwater bivalves, Unio tumidus, in response to different contamination profiles of aquatic sediments.

Antioxidant systems were studied in the freshwater bivalve Unio tumidus transplanted from a control site to four different contaminated areas, in order to study the biological response according to the contamination characteristics. Reduced and oxidized glutathione (GSH, GSSG), the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as selenium-dependent and non-selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidases (SeGPx and non-SeGPx), and glutathione reductase (GRd) were measured in the gills and the digestive gland of the mussels after 15 days of exposure at different sites. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) was evaluated by means of malondialdehyde measurements (MDA). The four sites investigated were located in the valleys of Fensch (F), Moselle (M), Lot et Garonne (LG), and Sarthe (S). At each site, the bivalves were placed upstream (Up) from an identified pollution source (a cokery, a laundry, or a foundry) and downstream (Do), close to the effluent outfall (Do(1)) or farther (Do(2)). The goal was to study the antioxidant response in relation to the pollution gradient. Metals and congeners of PAHs, PCBs, and organochlorinated pesticides were analyzed in the river sediments of each station. The exposure of the bivalves at the most highly polluted sites or close to the pollution source led to a sharp depletion in some antioxidant parameters, namely GRd, SeGPx, and GSH. The decrease in enzyme activities could reach 80% for GRd and 70% for SeGPx, while GSH depletion could yield 70%, leading then in an induction of lipid peroxidation, either in the digestive gland or in the gills. The higher the MDA concentrations, the lower the activity of these three antioxidant parameters, suggesting that they could be biomarkers for toxicity. Yet, a depletion in these parameters was sometimes insufficient for cytotoxicity to be induced, since lipid peroxidation failed to appear in some cases where antioxidant depletion was clear, although not so severe. The response of the gills and the digestive gland was not always paralleled, which can be explained by differences in the bioavailability of pollutants. In some cases, a relationship was not found between the antioxidant response and the degree and the type of contamination in sediments, suggesting that the effects could result from nonidentified pollutants or/and be indicators of bio-availability.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Cellular method for evaluation of noxiousness of inorganic pollutants in industrial wastes: calculation of a safety index for monitoring sludge discharge.

This article deals with a biological test of safety applicable to industrial wastes. The test is based on the measurement of the growth rate of cultured human cells exposed to waste samples with different dilutions. As a first approach, 15 chemicals in which discharge concentrations are submitted to sanitary regulations were tested one by one. For Zn, Cu, Ni, Cd, Ag, Co, Mg, sulfates, and fluorides, it was possible to detect concentrations that are below the allowed limit. For Hg, Al, As(V), Cr(III), Fe, and Pb, the concentrations that affect cell growth are higher than the allowed limit. Tests were also performed using actual samples (liquid effluent from a laundry and sludge from waste-water treatment plants). Results indicate that, in contrast to chemical analyses, the current biological test has the advantage of providing an indication of global toxicity, integrating all substances and factors that can be harmful to life processes. From the sludge data and the observed threshold of concentration that does not affect cell growth, a numeric safety index has been calculated which indicates the amount of sludge that could be dispersed, as a fertilizer, per hectare of agricultural soil. Such an index could be conveniently used for designing sewage sludge disposal strategies.

Biological Assay↗
PubMed2001

Aquatic environmental impact of detergents: from simple to more sophisticated models.

Nonaccidental releases of chemicals into the environment occur ubiquitously as a result of manufacturing activities and consumer use and disposal practices. The potential impact of such releases depends on the inherent chemical properties, the quantities that are discharged, and the manner in which these are partitioned in the receiving environment. The science of environmental risk assessment refers to a set of approaches and methodologies designed to guide the systematic evaluation of the potential risks associated with a specific environmental exposure. It is a relatively young scientific discipline that has grown with leaps and bounds in the past 2 decades. The environmental risk assessment of consumer products such as laundry detergents, disposed of down the drain, represented one of its earliest applications. Recognition of the importance of accurate assessment of the environmental fate and effects of consumer products helped encourage the development of test methods, tools, and approaches. Every responsible consumer product manufacturer today considers environmental risk assessment an integral component of product development.

Detergents↗
PubMed2001

Crystal structure of alkaline cellulase K: insight into the alkaline adaptation of an industrial enzyme.

The crystal structure of the catalytic domain of alkaline cellulase K was determined at 1.9 A resolution. Because of the most alkaliphilic nature and it's highest activity at pH 9.5, it is used commercially in laundry detergents. An analysis of the structural bases of the alkaliphilic character of the enzyme suggested a mechanism similar to that previously proposed for alkaline proteases, that is, an increase in the number of Arg, His, and Gln residues, and a decrease in Asp and Lys residues. Some ion pairs were formed by the gained Arg residues, which is similar to what has been found in the alkaline proteases. Lys-Asp ion pairs are disfavored and partly replaced with Arg-Asp ion pairs. The alkaline adaptation appeared to be a remodeling of ion pairs so that the charge balance is kept in the high pH range.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1990

Microbial degradation of chelating agents used in detergents with special reference to nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA).

The extensive use of phosphate-based detergents and agricultural fertilizers is one of the main causes of the world-wide eutrophication of rivers and lakes. To ameliorate such problems partial or total substitution of phosphates in laundry detergents by synthetic, non-phosphorus containing complexing agents is practiced in several countries. The physiological, biochemical and ecological aspects of the microbial degradation of the complexing agents most frequently used, such as polyphosphates, aminopolycarboxylates (especially of nitrilotriacetic acid), and phosphonates are reviewed.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗
PubMed1988

Diarrhoeal disease: knowledge, attitudes and practices in an aboriginal community.

This study was carried out in an Australian Aboriginal community in South Australia on the knowledge, attitudes and practices relating to diarrhoeal disease. Suggestions were sought on appropriate interventions. Dietary causes (including alcohol), factors relating to drinking water, poor environmental hygiene, infective agents and teething were considered by community member to be important in the causation of diarrhoea. Poor personal and domestic hygiene, and the lack of adequate bathing, toilet and laundry facilities were not considered to be important contributory factors. This may reflect the Aboriginal view of hygiene derived from many years of desert living as nomadic hunter-gatherers. The study provides valuable information to enable the selection of appropriate interventions for the control of diarrhoeal disease in this community.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Tinea corporis caused by Microsporum canis: report of a nosocomial outbreak.

In an unusual nosocomial outbreak, 13 staff and 11 patients in an acute and chronic health care facility were infected with the zoophilic dermatophyte, Microsporum canis. The dermatophyte was apparently introduced into the facility by a single infected patient. Likely modes of subsequent disease transmission include person-to-person contact, handling of contaminated laundry, and use of a shared razor. Infection control measures for managing such outbreaks are discussed.

Adult↗