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At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Brominated flame retardants and organochlorine pollutants in eggs of little owls (Athene noctua) from Belgium.

Residues of brominated diphenylethers (PBDEs), organochlorinated pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in 40 eggs of little owls (Athene noctua), a terrestrial top predator from Belgium. The major organohalogens detected were PCBs (median 2,600 ng/g lipid, range 790-23 000 ng/g lipid). PCB 153,138/163, 170, 180 and 187 were the predominant congeners and constituted 71% of total sum PCBs. PBDEs were measurable in all samples, but their concentrations were much lower than for PCBs, with a range from 29-572 ng/g lipid (median 108 ng/g lipid). The most prevalent PBDE congeners in little owl egg samples were BDE 47, 99 and 153. This profile differs from the profile in marine bird species, for which BDE 47 was the dominant congener, indicating that terrestrial birds may be more exposed to higher brominated BDE congeners than marine birds. The fully brominated BDE 209 could be detected in one egg sample (17 ng/g lipid), suggesting that higher brominated BDEs may accumulate in terrestrial food chains. Brominated biphenyl (BB) 153 was determined in all egg samples, with levels ranging from 0.6 to 5.6 ng/g lipid (median 1.3 ng/g lipid). Additionally, hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) could be identified and quantified in only two eggs at levels of 20 and 50 ng/g lipid. OCPs were present at low concentrations, suggesting a rather low contamination of the sampled environment with OCPs (median concentrations of sum DDTs: 826 ng/g lipid, sum chlordanes: 1,016 ng/g lipid, sum HCHs: 273 ng/g lipid). Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and octachlorostyrene (OCS) were also found at low median levels of 134 and 3.4 ng/g lipid, respectively. Concentrations of most analytes were significantly higher in eggs collected from deserted nests in comparison to addled (unhatched) eggs, while eggshell thickness did not differ between deserted and addled eggs. No significant correlations were found between eggshell thickness and the analysed organohalogens.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Post-traumatic stress reactions of children and adolescents exposed to the Athens 1999 earthquake.

This study was undertaken 6-7 months after the 1999 Athens earthquake with the aim of exploring the differences in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression symptoms between a group of children exposed to earthquake with a group of children not exposed to it, but with both groups potentially exposed to the same levels of post-earthquake adversities. The study included 2037 children, aged 9-17 years, who were assessed with self-completed questionnaires. The directly exposed group (N=1752) had significantly higher anxiety and PTSD scores than the indirectly exposed group (N=284), but no significant group differences were found in depression scores. Girls in both groups reported significantly more PTSD, anxiety and depressive symptoms than boys. Younger children reported significantly more PTSD and anxiety symptoms than the older ones. No significant interactions were found between direct exposure to earthquake, age group and gender. The severity of PTSD symptoms was most strongly predicted by greater perceived threat during the earthquake, whereas depression was most strongly predicted by the level of post-earthquake adversity. The severity of anxiety symptoms was most strongly predicted by female gender. These findings are discussed in relation to the need for screening and intervention following earthquake events.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Evolution of resistance patterns and identification of risk factors for Streptococcus pneumoniae colonisation in daycare centre attendees in Athens, Greece.

Two cross-sectional surveillance studies were conducted during the winters of 2000 and 2003 in Athens, Greece, to obtain nasopharyngeal swabs from healthy pre-school children attending kindergartens. A total of 460 strains were examined in 2000 and 485 strains in 2003, with carriage rates of 31.7% and 34.6%, respectively. Susceptibility patterns were evaluated for penicillin G, erythromycin, ceftriaxone, moxifloxacin, linezolid and telithromycin. Penicillin non-susceptibility increased from 20% to 34.9%, whereas erythromycin non-susceptibility increased from 23% to 30.5%. Resistance to both agents climbed from 7.5% to 22.3% (P<0.001). No isolates were found to be resistant to any of the other antimicrobial agents. Risk factors for carriage and/or antimicrobial resistance were also assessed.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2006

Gas-particle concentration and characterization of sources of PAHs in the atmosphere of a suburban area in Athens, Greece.

Atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were determined in two places in a suburban area of Athens greater area (AGA) during June and November 2003. Fourteen PAHs were quantified in the collected samples. The total concentration in the gas phase ranged between 6.89 and 124ngm(-3), while in the particulate phase between 0.44 and 13.2ngm(-3). Maximum concentrations of the total PAHs (gas and particulate phase) were observed during the cold period with an average of 40.7ngm(-3). PAHs were correlated with NO, NO(2) and O(3), wind speed, wind direction and temperature. Positive correlation was observed between PAHs and NO, NO(2), while negative correlation was detected between PAHs and O(3). The most abundant members were phenanthrene, anthracene, fluorene, fluoranthene and pyrene. Potential sources of PAHs in aerosols were investigated using molecular diagnostic ratios, which reflect sources such as diesel and gasoline engines, although other sources such as coal combustion and liquefied petroleum gas also contributed.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed2006

Estimation of selected heavy metals and arsenic in PM10 aerosols in the ambient air of the Greater Athens Area, Greece.

Aerosol samples of PM(10) were collected during summer and winter 2003 at two different sites in the Messogia Basin northeast of Athens, to demonstrate the variations of heavy metals in PM(10) and examine their relationship with both gaseous pollutants and meteorological parameters. Estimated heavy metals during the experimental campaign were mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni) and arsenic (As). The average heavy metal concentrations for the first site (Spata) constituted 0.66-14.7ng/m(3) for the summer period and 0.14-19.5ng/m(3) for the winter period. At the second site (Koropi), the corresponding values varied between 0.89 and 13.3ng/m(3) and 0.16 and 24.7ng/m(3), respectively. PM(10) Hg, PM(10) Cd and PM(10) Ni contents showed regular daily variations, with higher mass percentages during the summer, indicating differences in local PM(10) sources for each season. On the contrary, PM(10) Pb presented higher mass percentages during the winter. Examination of the relationship between heavy metals and meteorological parameters indicated a higher correlation with temperature and relative humidity, especially for Pb. In addition, most of the heavy metals (apart from Hg) presented an expected correlation with nitrate oxides (NO(x)), PM(10) and ozone (O(3)). Higher correlations with both meteorological parameters and gaseous pollutants were observed during the winter experimental campaign. Maximum heavy metal concentrations at both sites were observed during days with NE or NNE prevailing winds during the summer campaign, while the winter period was characterized with maximums during days with W or WNW prevailing winds.

Aerosols↗
PubMed2005

Pretransplantation prevalence of human herpes virus 8 antibodies in kidney donors and recipients in Athens, Greece.

AIM: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of anti-human herpes virus 8 (HHV8) antibodies in a cohort of renal donors and recipients in Athens, Greece. HHV8, the etiological agent of posttransplantation Kaposi's sarcoma, causes significant morbidity and mortality. METHODS: Serum samples from 97 subjects (49 donors and 48 recipients) were tested with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) prior to renal transplantation. RESULTS: Only 2 subjects (both transplant recipients) were found to be anti-HHV8-positive. Both subjects were of Albanian origin. CONCLUSION: Infection with HHV8 appears to be limited in the Greek population. However, in light of significant long-term morbidity with which HHV8 is related in immunocompromized patients, studies on the general population are needed to estimate the prevalence of HHV8 infection in the country and devise clear guidelines for pretransplantation screening and posttransplantation follow-up.

Albania↗
PubMed2000

Athens Insomnia Scale: validation of an instrument based on ICD-10 criteria.

OBJECTIVES: To describe and validate the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS). METHODS: The AIS is a self-assessment psychometric instrument designed for quantifying sleep difficulty based on the ICD-10 criteria. It consists of eight items: the first five pertain to sleep induction, awakenings during the night, final awakening, total sleep duration, and sleep quality; while the last three refer to well-being, functioning capacity, and sleepiness during the day. Either the entire eight-item scale (AIS-8) or the brief five-item version (AIS-5), which contains only the first five items, can be utilized. The validation of the AIS was based on its administration to 299 subjects: 105 primary insomniacs, 144 psychiatric patients and 50 non-patient controls. RESULTS: Regarding internal consistency, for both versions of the scale, the Cronbach's alpha was around 0. 90 and the mean item-total correlation coefficient was about 0.70. Moreover, in the factor analysis, the scale emerged as a sole component. The test-retest reliability correlation coefficient was found almost 0.90 at a 1-week interval. As far as external validity is concerned, the correlations of the AIS-8 and AIS-5 with the Sleep Problems Scale were 0.90 and 0.85, respectively. CONCLUSION: The high measures of consistency, reliability, and validity of the AIS make it an invaluable tool in sleep research and clinical practice.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

The diagnostic validity of the Athens Insomnia Scale.

OBJECTIVE: To provide documentation for the diagnostic validity of the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), a self-assessment psychometric tool which has previously shown high consistency, reliability and external validity for the evaluation of the intensity of sleep difficulty. METHODS: The AIS was administered to a total of 299 subjects (105 primary insomniacs, 100 psychiatric outpatients, 44 psychiatric inpatients and 50 nonpatient controls) who were also assessed for the ICD-10 diagnosis of "nonorganic insomnia" blindly in terms of the AIS scores. RESULTS: 176 subjects were identified as insomniacs and 123 as noninsomniacs. Logistic regression of AIS total score against the ICD-10 diagnosis of insomnia demonstrated that a score of 6 is the optimum cutoff based on the balance between sensitivity and specificity. When diagnosing individuals with a score of 6 or higher as insomniacs, the scale presents with 93% sensitivity and 85% specificity (90% overall correct case identification). For this cutoff score, in the general population, the scale has a positive predictive value (PPV) of 41% and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 99%. For the same cutoff score, among unselected psychiatric patients, the PPV was found to be 86% and the NPV 92%. Other cutoff scores can be also considered, however, depending on the importance of avoiding false positive or false negative results; for example, for a cutoff score of 10, the PPV in the general population reaches about 90% without the NPV becoming lower than 94%. CONCLUSION: The AIS can be utilized in clinical practice and research, not only as an instrument to measure the intensity of sleep-related problems, but also as a screening tool in reliably establishing the diagnosis of insomnia.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Cadmium, chromium and lead contamination of Athene noctua, the little owl, of Bologna and Parma, Italy.

A study was conducted to determine cadmium, chromium and lead concentrations in liver and brain of 52 little owls (Athene noctua) from two provinces of Emilia Romagna region, with the aim of furnishing indirect information concerning contamination of their habitat, also considering possible environmental dispersion of the metals. Metal analysis was performed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry with graphite furnace. Variance analysis with sampling area, gender and age shows that no statistical difference was found for gender, while a significant difference (P<0.05) was found for cadmium and lead, but not for chromium, when sampling areas and age were of concern. For all metals highest mean concentrations were found in liver (170 ppb for cadmium, 297 ppb for chromium and 312 ppb for lead). These levels can be considered as indicative of chronic exposure to low and "background" amounts of pollutants and they are of no toxicological concern, as they are always well below the toxic thresholds defined for each metal. The present study can be considered as a starting point for further analyses, aimed to the definition of any possible subtle effect (e.g. effects on enzymes activity) and of any possible correlation between levels of pollutants and appearance of possible adverse effects. It also furnished useful data for diagnostic cases and potentially for monitoring local contamination.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Nitro-PAH in ambient particulate matter in the atmosphere of Athens.

Nitrated polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (NPAH) with a molecular mass of 247 Daltons were found in soot collected in downtown Athens during a campaign performed in 1996. In particular, 2-nitrofluoranthene (2-NFa) and 2-nitropyrene (2-NPy), which are mainly related to photo-induced chemical processes occurring in the atmosphere, were more abundant than 1-nitropyrene (1-NPy) usually associated to motor vehicle exhaust.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed2002

First measurements of carbon tetrachloride and tetrachloroethene in the atmosphere of Athens, Greece.

Levels of carbon tetrachloride and tetrachloroethene were determined for the first time in Athens in the summer of 2000. The mean CCl4 and C2Cl4 concentrations were 0.060 and 0.18 ppb, respectively. CCl4 did not exhibit significant variation throughout the measurement period or with wind direction. C2Cl4 under strong eastern winds had less than half the concentrations observed during other meteorological conditions. No diurnal variation was observed for either compound.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed2003

Methods for comparing gridded inventories of atmospheric emissions--application for Milan province, Italy and the Greater Athens Area, Greece.

A set of methods has been compiled to compare gridded air emission inventories that have been derived, on the same spatial grid, using widely differing techniques. Top-down and bottom-up inventories for Milan, Italy and for the Greater Athens area (GAA), Greece were used to test and apply these methods. The applicability of each method to certain source sectors was assessed by conducting sensitivity analyses. Whilst some of the methods (such as regression calculations or the Moran coefficient) appeared very sensitive to variations of point source emissions, others (e.g. the construction of difference maps) proved more appropriate for characterizing line source differences. Area sources could best be dealt with by using the newly developed acceptability criterion. The development of these tools allows a reproducible comparison of sets of emission inventories and consequently supports developments towards improvement.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed2003

Micromorphology, composition and origin of the orange patina on the marble surfaces of Propylaea (Acropolis, Athens).

This paper is an attempt to contribute to the discussion started in the 1980s and continuing until today, on the origin of orange-brown patinas observed on marble surfaces. SEM and XRD were used in the study of the orange-brown patina growing at the east stoa of Propylaea, at the Acropolis of Athens. The patina consists of an extremely compact, homogenous, 500-microm-thick layer, mainly of hydroxyapatite. The outer part (50 microm) of the layer presents an orange colour attributed to iron in clay particles, which were deposited on the surface of the patina and have gradually been diffused in the bulk. The interface between the phosphatic layer and the marble is very uneven and full of cavities colonised by microorganisms. The phosphatic layer penetrates into the grain boundaries and fills the empty space between the grains. The presence of biological attack at the interface causes progressive erosion and detachment of both the patina and the marble. The minimum presence of oxalates, the absence of microorganisms or remnants of them in the phosphatic layer, the homogeneity and compactness of the patina, give evidence against the theory of biogenic origin. It is suggested that the layer originates from an artificial coating deliberately applied onto the marble surface for protective or aesthetic reasons, when the marble had already been weathered. Possible manmade pastes are suggested.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Exposure to carbon monoxide in the Athens urban area during commuting.

An extensive survey has been designed to provide detailed information on carbon monoxide (CO) concentration in the main transport modes and along heavy traffic routes in the Athens urban area. Specifically the study identifies the main factors affecting CO exposure during commuting. Several portable, electrochemical CO monitors (Solomat's MPM4100), were used to record the in-vehicle CO concentrations every 15 s. Measurements were performed during rush hour periods. Field monitoring was conducted in summer 1998 and winter 1998-1999. Exposure estimates were compared to WHO guidelines. The findings showed that the mean CO level over trips of 30 min was 21.4 ppm for private car against 10.4, 9.6, 4 and 11.5 ppm for bus, trolley, electric train and pedestrians, respectively. Transport mode, route, monitoring period and season had a significant influence on the measured CO concentrations. The study points out the importance of microenvironmental monitoring, instead of using fixed-site data in assessing commuter's CO exposure.

Automobile Driving↗
PubMed2003

Comparative assessment of neural networks and regression models for forecasting summertime ozone in Athens.

A comparison study has been performed with neural networks (NNs) and multiple linear regression models to forecast the next day's maximum hourly ozone concentration in the Athens basin at four representative monitoring stations that show very different behavior. All models use 11 predictors (eight meteorological and three persistence variables) and are developed and validated between April and October from 1992 to 1999. Performance results based on a wide set of forecast quality measures indicate that the NNs provide better estimates of ozone concentrations at the monitoring sites, whilst the more often used linear models are less efficient at accurately forecasting high ozone concentrations. The violation of the European information threshold of 180 microg/m(3) is successfully predicted by the NN in 72% of the cases on average. Results at all stations are consistent with similar ozone forecast studies using NNs in other European cities.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

An estimation of the spatial distribution of agricultural ammonia emissions in the Greater Athens Area.

An assessment of the magnitude and the spatial distribution of ammonia emissions originating from agricultural practices in the Greater Athens Area (GAA) is performed due to the primary role of ammonia in aerosol formation. As no emission factors are available for the area of interest, the emissions were estimated using typical emission factors for the emissions from animals, fertilized and unfertilized cultures, as well as the 1996 primary statistical data of the agricultural census for the GAA. Our analysis estimated the annual ammonia emissions from agricultural sources to be approximately 13,250+/-40% t of ammonia per year. This detailed ammonia emission record can and will be used for the study, via modeling, of the serious aerosol problem in the GAA.

Aerosols↗
PubMed1983

Psychological stress and fatal heart attack: the Athens (1981) earthquake natural experiment.

The effects of acute and subacute psychological stress caused by a sudden general disaster on mortality from atherosclerotic heart disease (underlying cause) and cardiac events (proximate cause) were investigated by comparing total and cause-specific mortality during the days after a major earthquake in Athens in 1981 with the mortality during the surrounding month and the corresponding periods of 1980 and 1982. There was an excess of deaths from cardiac and external causes on the days after the major earthquake, but no excess of deaths from cancer and little, if any, excess of deaths from other causes. The excess mortality was more evident when atherosclerotic heart disease was considered as the underlying cause (5, 7, and 8 deaths on the first three days, respectively; background mean deaths per day 2.6; upper 95th centile 5) than when cardiac events in general were considered as the proximate cause (9, 11, and 14 deaths on the first three days, respectively; background mean 7.1, upper 95th centile 12).

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2003

Ecotoxicological suitability of floodplain habitats in The Netherlands for the little owl (Athene noctua vidalli).

This study describes the actual risks of exposure to contaminants, which little owls (Athene noctua vidalli) face in Dutch river floodplains. The results indicate that PCBs pose a risk: not only are levels in little owls from floodplains higher than levels found in little owls from a reference site but the PCB patterns in owls from the floodplains also indicate induction of hepatic cytochrome P450 enzymes by dioxin like compounds, possibly PCBs. Of the heavy metals, only cadmium is thought to pose a risk in certain conditions, for example, when little owls are feeding only on earthworms over a prolonged period of time. The results do not indicate any effects on the occurrence of prey items of the little owl like for instance earthworm, beetles and shrews. Hence, it is not expected that little owls will be affected by diminishing prey availability due to contamination.

Animals↗