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Persistence of pharmaceuticals and other organic compounds in chlorinated drinking water as a function of time.

Ninety eight pharmaceuticals and other organic compounds (POOCs) that were amended to samples of chlorinated drinking-water were extracted and analyzed 1, 3, 6, 8, and 10 days after amendment to determine whether the total chlorine residual reacted with the amended POOCs in drinking water in a time frame similar to the residence time of drinking water in a water distribution system. Results indicated that if all 98 were present in the finished drinking water from a drinking-water treatment plant using free chlorine at 1.2 mg/L as the distribution system disinfectant residual, 52 POOCs would be present in the drinking water after 10 days at approximately the same concentration as in the newly finished drinking water. Concentrations of 16 POOCs would be reduced by 32% to 92%, and 22 POOCs would react completely with residual chlorine within 24 h. Thus, the presence of free chlorine residual is an effective means for transforming some POOCs during distribution.

Chlorine↗

Removal of soft deposits from the distribution system improves the drinking water quality.

Deterioration in drinking water quality in distribution networks represents a problem in drinking water distribution. These can be an increase in microbial numbers, an elevated concentration of iron or increased turbidity, all of which affect taste, odor and color in the drinking water. We studied if pipe cleaning would improve the drinking water quality in pipelines. Cleaning was arranged by flushing the pipes with compressed air and water. The numbers of bacteria and the concentrations of iron and turbidity in drinking water were highest at 9 p.m., when the water consumption was highest. Soft deposits inside the pipeline were occasionally released to bulk water, increasing the concentrations of iron, bacteria, microbially available organic carbon and phosphorus in drinking water. The cleaning of the pipeline decreased the diurnal variation in drinking water quality. With respect to iron, only short-term positive effects were obtained. However, removing of the nutrient-rich soft deposits did decrease the microbial growth in the distribution system during summer when there were favorable warm temperatures for microbial growth. No Norwalk-like viruses or coliform bacteria were detected in the soft deposits, in contrast to the high numbers of heterotrophic bacteria.

Bacteria↗

Screening high-fluoride and high-arsenic drinking waters and surveying endemic fluorosis and arsenism in Shaanxi province in western China.

The objectives of this study were to screen high-fluoride and high-arsenic drinking waters, to evaluate the effectiveness of fluoride-reducing projects and to assess the present condition of endemic fluorosis and arsenism in Shaanxi province in western China. For screening high-fluoride drinking waters, five water samples were collected from each selected village where dental fluorosis patients were detected in 8-12 year-old children. For evaluating the effectiveness of fluoride-reducing projects, four water samples were collected from each project at end-user level. Fluoride concentrations in water samples were measured by fluoride-selective electrode method or spectrophotometry. Dental fluorosis in children aging 8-12 years was examined according to Horowitz's Tooth Surface Index of Fluorosis. Skeletal fluorosis in adults was detected clinically and radiologically according to Chinese Criteria of Clinical Diagnosis of Skeletal Fluorosis. For screening high-arsenic waters, 20 water samples were collected from each village which was selected from areas characterized by the geographic features to induce high-arsenic underground water, i.e., alluvial plains, ore mining or smelting areas, geothermal artesians, and thermal springs. Arsenic concentrations in water samples were determined by spectrophotometry or arsine generation atomic fluorospectrophotometry. Arsenism in adults aging 40-89 years was examined in villages with arsenic concentrations in drinking water above 0.05 mg/l according to Chinese Criteria for Classification of Endemic Arsenism Areas and Clinical Diagnoses of Endemic Arsenism. The results showed that the fluoride level of 7144 water samples was 1.17 +/- 0.93 mg/l. There were 3396 (47.6%) high-fluoride waters (fluoride level was above 1.0 mg/l) distributing in 786 (45.1%) villages, where about 0.8 million (50.0%) people inhabited. Additionally, the 1315 fluoride-reducing projects were studied. The fluoride level of the projects was 2.79 +/- 1.09 and 0.98 +/- 0.47 mg/l before and after building the projects, which remained at relatively lower level (1.03 +/- 0.47 mg/l). But there were still 58.0% of the projects providing drinking waters with fluoride concentrations beyond 1.0mg/l. The rates of dental fluorosis and skeletal fluorosis were 38.2% and 11.8%, respectively. The arsenic level of 1732 water samples was 0.010 +/- 0.082 mg/l. There were 174 (14.9%) high-arsenic waters (arsenic level was above 0.010 mg/l) being detected, distributing in 41 (38.7%) villages. The arsenic level in 53 (4.5%) water samples was beyond 0.025 mg/l. There were 3 villages with arsenic level in drinking water beyond Chinese National Permissible Limits (0.050 mg/l), and the prevalence rate of arsenism reached 37.0% in these three villages, 3.7%, 22.2%, and 11.1% of subjects suffering from mild, moderate, and severe arsenism, respectively. Conclusively, the wide distribution of high-fluoride drinking waters contributes to the prevalence of dental and skeletal fluorosis in Shaanxi province and the quality of fluoride-reducing projects should be further improved. Ore mining and smelting induces high-arsenic drinking waters, resulting in arsenism prevalence in Shang-luo city. Proper measures should be taken to deal with water pollution in the ore mining and smelting areas in order to solve the high-arsenic water problem in Shaanxi province.

Adult↗

Novice drink drivers, recidivism and crash involvement.

A group of drink drivers with no prior arrest for drink driving was selected from drink driving arrest records originating in Western Australia between 1987 and 1995. These drink-driving records were linked to road crash records for the same period. The analysis of these combined records focussed on the sequence of driving events (i.e., arrests, crashes and arrests resulting from crashes) and the present article explores the relationship in time between known drink driving incidents and crash involvement. Using multi-variate survival analysis, it was found that if a driver's first drink driving offence resulted from a road crash, especially if this occurred at a younger age, he/she was significantly more likely to drink, drive and crash again.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Identifying problem drinkers: lack of sensitivity of the two-question drinking test.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The two-question drinking test ("Have you ever had a drinking problem?" and "When was your last drink?") is frequently cited as an accurate method of screening for alcoholism, yet its performance has never been validated. This study evaluated its utility among patients in two primary care settings. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The two-question drinking test was compared to the Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (MAST) as the standard criterion for the diagnosis of alcoholism. The subjects were 334 nonpregnant English-speaking patients over the age of 18 seen in two university outpatient teaching clinics. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of alcoholism based on a MAST score > or = 5 was 18%. The sensitivity of the two-question test was 53% and its specificity 93%. The question "When was your last drink?" added little to the question "Have you ever had a drinking problem?" The latter question alone had a sensitivity of 50% and a specificity of 97%. CONCLUSIONS: The two-question test is not sensitive enough to be used to screen for alcohol abuse among outpatients. However, because of the low false positive rate, a positive response to the question "Have you ever had a drinking problem?" may help identify alcoholic patients.

Adult↗

Factors predicting the onset of adolescent drinking in families at high risk for developing alcoholism.

BACKGROUND: With a longitudinal prospective design, the purpose of this study was 1) to assess, with survival analysis, the age of onset of drinking in relation to family history of alcoholism; 2) to examine the importance of selected neurobiological and psychosocial risk factors in predicting the onset to drink; and 3) to determine if the age of onset of substance dependence problems differed by risk group status. METHODS: One hundred twenty-five children and adolescents were evaluated annually (N = 638 evaluations), providing up to seven annual waves of longitudinal data. Survival analyses were performed to determine the age of onset of regular drinking and the age of onset for substance abuse/dependence. The age of onset of regular drinking outcome was modeled using familial density of alcoholism and four factors, which included neurobiological indices of development (postural sway and P300), personality characteristics, academic achievement, self-esteem, and trait anxiety. RESULTS: High-risk children/adolescents showed a significantly earlier age of onset of drinking and an earlier age of onset for substance abuse problems. Familial density of alcoholism predicted an earlier onset of drinking, as did having deficits in reading achievement, reduced P300 (visual and auditory), and greater postural sway for age. Higher scores on the Extraversion scale of the Junior version of the Eysenck Personality Inventory also predicted an earlier onset of drinking. CONCLUSIONS: Familial density of alcoholism (number of alcoholic first- and second-degree relatives) is an important predictor of adolescent alcohol initiation. Evidence is presented suggesting that part of the familial/genetic variation in outcome may be due to neurobiological factors and temperament.

Adolescent↗

Role of disinfection in suppressing the spread of pathogens with drinking water: possibilities and limitations.

Transmission of pathogens with drinking water is a widespread problem, which affects not only the countries with low hygienic standards but the industrialized countries as well. The pathogens are excreted by man or animals and are picked up orally. Chlorination of drinking water has been introduced to the water supply in the beginning of the 19th century in order to stop the spreading of pathogens especially typhoid fever by drinking water. Despite the worldwide use of chlorine for disinfection of drinking water, water-mediated disease outbreaks occur again and again. Disinfection of drinking water with chlorine has undoubtedly contributed to the reduction of typhoid fever mortality. However, it must be clear that other factors play an important role in the mortality drop. Filtration of water is a long-known and very effective process for eliminating pathogens from the drinking water. Pathogens in particles cannot be killed sufficiently by a chemical disinfectant. Even small fecal particles have to be eliminated reliably from the water by filtration. Disinfection of drinking water cannot replace filtration. The disinfection should be used to minimize the residual risk due to the presence of pathogens in the water but cannot be used for bringing fecally contaminated water into a hygienically sound condition.

Chlorine↗

Screening for health behaviors in ambulatory clinical settings: does smoking status predict hazardous drinking?

Although a link between alcohol consumption and smoking behavior is well documented, the majority of studies have focused on individuals dependent on both alcohol and nicotine. The present study examined the likelihood of hazardous drinking as a function of smoking status, gender, age, ethnicity, and education in a sample of 676 medical and dental patients whose drinking covered the spectrum from abstinence to high levels. We hypothesized that hazardous drinking would be more common among young, male respondents who were current smokers and that past smokers would show a risk of hazardous drinking that was intermediate between that of current smokers and nonsmokers. Results showed that younger age, fewer years of education, male gender, and current smoking status were significant predictors of hazardous drinking. However, there was no relationship between a past history of smoking and current risk of hazardous drinking. Evaluation of the Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire (FTQ) showed that it was no more useful as a screening instrument than a single question that elicited current smoking status. These findings suggest that patients who report current smoking should routinely be asked about their current alcohol consumption. Interventions should then be tailored to address smoking and, if appropriate, hazardous drinking as well.

Adult↗

Self-control in relation to problem drinking and symptoms of disordered eating.

The present study investigated problem drinking and symptoms of disordered eating in relation to (a) restrained drinking and eating and (b) cognitive self-control. One hundred ninety-eight high school students (97 males and 101 females: mean age = 16.45 years) completed questionnaires which assessed problem drinking, symptoms of disordered eating, restrained eating and drinking, and cognitive self-control. Using principal components analysis, three factors with eigenvalues greater than one were found to summarise the interrelationships among the examined measures. For both sexes, the first two factors primarily reflected problem drinking and restrained drinking, and problem eating and restrained eating, respectively. The third factor reflected a more general problem with control underlying aspects of both problem drinking and problem eating.

Adolescent↗

History of abuse and drinking outcomes following inpatient alcohol treatment: a prospective study.

Little is known about the impact of sexual or physical abuse history on response to alcohol treatment. This prospective study investigated the relationships between sexual and physical abuse histories, participants' characteristics, and response to inpatient alcohol treatment. Forty-one women and 59 men were assessed monthly for 1 year following hospitalization for alcohol dependence. Survival analyses showed that sexual abuse history was associated with shorter times to first drink and relapse. Physical abuse history was not associated with poorer drinking outcomes. Although women were more likely than men to have a history of sexual abuse, no gender differences were found in drinking outcomes. Poorer drinking outcomes were found among participants who at baseline were not married, had less than a college education, were not employed full time, or carried a diagnosis of depression or other psychiatric disorder. When adjusted for these characteristics, the associations between sexual abuse history and times to first drink and relapse were no longer statistically significant. While sexual abuse history is a clinically meaningful predictor of return to drinking we note the importance of considering patients' background and clinical characteristics in examining the impact of sexual abuse history on drinking outcomes following treatment.

Adult↗

An individual in context: predictors of alcohol use and drinking problems among Greek and residence hall students.

Fraternity, sorority, and residence hall residents were compared on drinking rates and patterns, drinking-related problems, family history of alcohol problems, alcohol outcome expectancies, and high school drinking patterns. Results indicated residence in a fraternity was related to more frequent alcohol consumption and greater negative consequences even after accounting for family history, expectancies, and high school drinking rates. Family history of alcohol problems was only related to negative consequences for men. Only high school drinking rates were related to amount of alcohol consumed per occasion, for both men and women. Fraternity residence was found to be related to more negative consequences even after accounting for current drinking habits. However, sorority residence was found to moderate the relationship between current drinking and negative consequences. Both high and low drinkers in sororities indicated similar rates of alcohol-related negative consequences, whereas high frequency female drinkers in the residence hall sample reported significantly more problems.

Adolescent↗

Negative perceptions about self-control and identification with gender-role stereotypes related to binge eating, problem drinking, and to co-morbidity among adolescents.

PURPOSE: To examine the role of both positive and negative styles of self-control, and gender-role stereotypes in binge eating and problem drinking. METHOD: Participants were 428 adolescent boys and 555 girls from predominantly Anglo-Australian backgrounds who attended regional state schools in New South Wales, Australia. Students completed standardized questionnaires that assessed problem drinking, binge eating, self-control styles, and identification with gender-role stereotypes. ANOVA and post hoc Tukey tests were conducted to examine differences among adolescents who reported problems in binge eating, drinking, and both domains. RESULTS: Adolescents who reported eating and drinking problems also reported a high negative and a low positive sense of self-control coupled with self-identification with the traits that typically describe negative dimensions of gender-role stereotypes. Regardless of gender, problem drinking was mainly related to traits of negative masculinity (bossy, noisy aggressive, etc.) whereas binge eating was mainly related to negative femininity (shy, needs approval from others, etc.). Participants who reported eating and drinking symptoms recorded low scores on positive control, high scores on negative control, and also high scores on the negative dimensions of masculinity and femininity. SUMMARY: A negative and passive style of self-control coupled with an identification with negative dimensions of gender summarizes the type of self-regulation that is implicated in both binge eating and problem drinking, and co-morbid symptoms. There is a need for interventions working toward a more balanced gender self-concept and a positive sense of self-control.

Adolescent↗

Comparative risk analysis of six volatile organic compounds in California drinking water.

The widespread use and storage of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the United States has led to releases of these chemicals into the environment, including groundwater sources of drinking water. Many of these VOCs are commonly found in public drinking water supplies across the nation and are considered by state or federal agencies to be potentially carcinogenic to humans. In this paper, we evaluate the detection frequencies, detected concentrations, and relative cancer risks of six VOCs in drinking water sources in California from 1995 to 2001. We find that during this 7-year period, the most frequently detected VOCs in sampled drinking water sources were chloroform (12-14%), PCE (11-13%), and TCE (10-12%). Detection frequencies in water were lower for 1,1-DCE (3-6%), MTBE (1-3%), and benzene (<1%). Mean detected concentrations were also consistently above California's primary maximum contaminant level for some VOCs, including benzene, PCE, and TCE. Although none of the six VOCs necessarily poses a significant public health threat from drinking water exposures, 1,1-DCE and benzene werefound to pose the greatest cancer risk relative to the other VOCs. However, after adjusting for the occurrence of each VOC in drinking water, chloroform and PCE were found to pose the greatest relative cancer risk. Despite media reports about significant MTBE contamination of drinking watersupplies in California, MTBE detections were infrequent and this chemical was found to pose the least cancer risk relative to the other VOCs.

California↗

Bromate in chlorinated drinking waters: occurrence and implications for future regulation.

Bromate is a contaminant of commercially produced solutions of sodium hypochlorite used for disinfection of drinking water. However, no methodical approach has been carried out in U.S. drinking waters to determine the impact of such contamination on drinking water quality. This study utilized a recently developed method for quantitation of bromate down to 0.05 microg/L to determine the concentration of bromate present in finished waters that had been chlorinated using hypochlorite. Forty treatment plants throughout the United States using hypochlorite in the disinfection step were selected and the levels of bromate in the water both prior to and following the addition of hypochlorite were measured. The levels of bromate in the hypochlorite feedstock were also measured and together with the dosage information provided by the plants and the amount of free chlorine in the feedstock, it was possible to calculate the theoretical level of bromate that would be imparted to the water. A mass balance was performed to compare the level of bromate in finished drinking water samples to that found in the corresponding hypochlorite solution used for treatment. Additional confirmation of the source of elevated bromate levels was provided by monitoring for an increase in the level of chlorate, a co-contaminant of hypochlorite, atthe same point in the treatment plant where bromate was elevated. This study showed that bromate in hypochlorite-treated finished waters varies across the United States based on the source of the chemical feedstock, which can add as much as 3 microg/L bromate into drinking water. Although this is within the current negotiated industry standard that allows up to 50% of the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for bromate in drinking water to be contributed by hypochlorite, it would be a challenge to meet a tighter standard. Given that distribution costs encourage utilities to purchase chemical feedstocks from local suppliers, utilities in certain regions of the United States may be put at a distinct disadvantage if future lower regulations on bromate levels in finished drinking water are put into place. Moreover, with these contaminant levels it would be almost impossible to lower the maximum permissible contribution to bromate in finished water from hypochlorite to 10% of the MCL, which is the norm for other treatment chemicals. Until this issue is resolved, it will be difficult to justify a lowering of the bromate MCL from its current level of 10 to 5 microg/L or lower.

Bromates↗

An evaluation of the cariogenic potential of baby and infant fruit drinks.

The cariogenic potential of a range of fruit drinks was assessed on the basis of plaque pH by the plaque harvesting method. In addition, the inherent pH and titratable acidity of each drink was analysed. The effects of so-called 'no sugar added' and 'sugar-free' drinks were compared with a standard 10% sucrose drink for their effect on plaque pH in vitro, on a group of volunteers, using the Cariogenic Potential Index (CPI). All drinks had a low inherent pH and some a high titratable acidity. All the drinks also depressed the plaque pH below 5.5 within 5 minutes of drinking and had a CPI equal to or greater than a standard 10% sucrose solution.

Adolescent↗

The effect of wine or beer versus a carbonated soft drink, served at a meal, on ad libitum energy intake.

BACKGROUND: Alcoholic beverage drinking may increase total energy intake at a meal by various mechanisms and this effect may depend on the sort of beverage. OBJECTIVE: To test the effect of wine, beer and a soft drink served with a normal meal on food and total energy intake in non-obese men. DESIGN: A supper meal consisting of three consecutive dishes was presented to 22 young men. Ad libitum energy intakes (EI) of the meal were measured at three different occasions in a cross-over design with red wine, lager beer or a carbonated soft drink. This was done in two studies with different design. In the first study the beverages were supplied ad libitum and in a second study the intake of the beverages was fixed: beer and soft drink at 9 ml/kg body weight and wine isoalcoholic to beer, 3.185 ml/kg body weight. RESULTS: In the ad libitum beverage study total EI was higher with wine than with the soft drink and beer (P<0.05). In the fixed beverage study differences in total EI did not reach statistical significance (P=0.14), although the intake of goulash was higher with wine and beer than with the soft drink (P<0.005). CONCLUSION: These data indicate that alcoholic beverages, and wine in particular, may enhance total EI at a meal relative to a soft drink, when served with no restriction.

Adult↗

Irrigation water as a source of drinking water: is safe use possible?

BACKGROUND: In arid and semi-arid countries there are often large areas where groundwater is brackish and where people have to obtain water from irrigation canals for all uses, including domestic ones. An alternative to drawing drinking water directly from irrigation canals or village water reservoirs is to use the water that has seeped from the irrigation canals and irrigated fields and that has formed a small layer of fresh water on top of the brackish groundwater. The objective of this study was to assess whether use of irrigation seepage water for drinking results in less diarrhoea than direct use of irrigation water and how irrigation water management would impact on health. METHODS: The study was undertaken in an irrigated area in the southern Punjab, Pakistan. Over a one-year period, drinking water sources used and diarrhoea episodes were recorded each day for all individuals of 200 households in 10 villages. Separate surveys were undertaken to collect information on hygiene behaviour, sanitary facilities, and socio-economic status. RESULTS: Seepage water was of much better quality than surface water, but this did not translate into less diarrhoea. This could only be partially explained by the generally poor quality of water in the in-house storage vessels, reflecting considerable in-house contamination of drinking water. Risk factors for diarrhoea were absence of a water connection and water storage facility, lack of a toilet, low standard of hygiene, and low socio-economic status. The association between water quality and diarrhoea varied by the level of water availability and the presence or absence of a toilet. Among people having a high quantity of water available and a toilet, the incidence rate of diarrhoea was higher when surface water was used for drinking than when seepage water was used (relative risk 1.68; 95% CI 1.31-2.15). For people with less water available the direction of the association between water quality and diarrhoea was different (relative risk 0.80; 95% CI 0.69-0.93). This indicates that good quality drinking water provides additional health benefits only when sufficient quantities of water and a toilet are available. In a multivariate analysis no association was found between water quality and diarrhoea but there was a significant effect of water quantity on diarrhoea which was to a large extent mediated through sanitation and hygiene behaviour. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing the availability of water in the house by having a household connection and a storage facility is the most important factor associated with reduced diarrhoea in this area. Safe use of canal irrigation water seems possible if households can pump seepage water to a large storage tank in their house and have a continuous water supply for sanitation and hygiene. Irrigation water management clearly has an impact on health and bridging the gap between the irrigation and drinking water supply sectors could provide important health benefits by taking into account the domestic water availability when managing irrigation water.

Adolescent↗

Potential dental effects of infants' fruit drinks studied in vitro.

Eighteen different infants' drinks from five manufacturers were examined for their carbohydrate, calcium, phosphorus and acid contents, and their attack on tooth mineral. Seven of the drinks were compared with nine varieties of adults' soft drinks, and demineralization was studied with and without the presence of a cariogenic oral streptococcus. The influence of the acids already in the drinks in dissolving Ca and P outstripped that of any acid generated in these studies in vitro by microbial fermentation of the sugars they contained, giving an indication of their relative erosiveness rather than their cariogenic action. Various other features of the drinks relevant to dental health were identified. Titratable acid was a better guide than pH to their dental properties. Although there were considerable differences between the various infants' drinks, taken as a group, their acidity levels and demineralizing powers were generally lower than those of the adults' drinks.

Adult↗