An Environmental Justice Paradigm For Risk Assessment

Environmental justice poses dramatic challenges to the field of risk assessment. Risk assessment techniques can either benefit or harm the cause for environmental justice, depending upon how they are deployed. If such techniques are used within the context of community leadership, with sensitivity to community needs and priorities, and with an understanding of the limitations of these techniques, then there are many practical and useful applications. In contrast, when risk assessment technologies are used by corporate and government elites that are not accountable to the communities in which risks are present or proposed, such techniques often exacerbate existing inequalities in the distribution of risks and benefits. This article explores the evidence behind these hypotheses, and their implications for the fields of risk assessment and environmental justice.

     

Home range and habitat selection of Cape Vultures Gyps coprotheres in relation to supplementary feeding

Capsule: Supplementary feeding stations provide a useful conservation benefit for vultures, without disrupting their natural movement ecology.

Aims: To understand the effects of providing supplementary food on the movement ecology of vultures.

Methods: We used Global Positioning System tracking devices to monitor the movements of 28 Cape Vultures Gyps coprotheres using feeding stations in South Africa. We calculated home range values and then performed a habitat selection analysis.

Results: We show that aside from roost sites, vulture feeding stations are the most important environmental variable that explains vulture movements. However, we found that the birds ranged over areas without supplementary food and their mean home range values were comparable to those measured before the inception of feeding stations.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the use of supplementary feeding sites did not significantly impact on the natural foraging behaviour of the species.     

The relationship of single-strand breaks in DNA to breast cancer risk and to tissue concentrations of oestrogens

Context: Clinical study of breast cancer patients in Chicago, IL, USA.

Objective: Ascertain the utility of measurements of single-strand breaks (SSB) in DNA for assessment of breast cancer risk.

Methods: Fine-needle aspirates of the breast, SSB by nick translation, percent breast density (PBD), Gail model risk, cumulative methylation index (CMI), enzymes of DNA repair and tissue antioxidants.

Results: DNA repair enzymes and 4-hydroxyestradiol were negatively associated with SSB; CMI and PBD were positively associated.

Conclusions: Quantitative measurement of SSBs by this procedure indicates the relative number of SSBs and is related to promoter methylation, antioxidant availability and percent breast density.     

Propeptide big-endothelin,N-terminal-pro brain natriuretic peptide and mortality. The Ludwigshafen risk and cardiovascular health (LURIC) study

Context: The endothelin system (Big-ET-1) is a key regulator in cardiovascular (CV) disease and congestive heart failure (CHF).

Objectives: We have examined the incremental value of Big-ET-1 in predicting total and CV mortality next to the well-established CV risk marker N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP).

Methods: Big-ET-1 and NT-proBNP were determined in 2829 participants referred for coronary angiography (follow-up 9.9 years).

Results: Big-ET-1 is an independent predictor of total, CV mortality and death due to CHF.

Discussion: The conjunct use of Big-ET-1 and NT-proBNP improves the risk stratification of patients with intermediate to high risk of CV death and CHF.

Conclusions: Big-ET-1improves risk stratification in patients referred for coronary angiography.     

Quantification of 1-hydroxypyrene, 1- and 2-hydroxynaphthalene, 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene and 6-hydroxynitropyrene by HPLC-MS/MS in human urine as exposure biomarkers for environmental and occupational surveys

Context: Several urinary PAHs metabolites can be detected by HPLC-MS/MS for individual exposure assessment.

Objective: Quantitation of urinary metabolites of four PAHs, selected on the basis of their significance, with reduced costs and high sensitivity.

Materials and methods: HPLC-MS/MS was used and pure standards and isotope-labeled internal analogs of the analytes. Two hundred samples were tested after enzymatic hydrolysis.

Results: Accuracy was higher than 90% and variability lower than 19%; LODs permit to measure 1-hydroxypyrene, 1 and 2-hydroxynaphthalene in all subjects, 6-hydroxynitropyrene in the 65% and 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene in the 70%.

Discussion and conclusion: The method is suitable both for occupational and for environmental studies. This is the first paper reporting urinary levels of 6-hydroxynitropyrene in European subjects, nonoccupationally exposed to nitro-PAHs.     

Association of IL-10 (-819T/C, -592A/C and -1082A/G) and IL-6 -174G/C gene polymorphism and the risk of pneumonia-induced sepsis

Context: Association between inherited variants and the risks of sepsis is controversial.

Objective: To evaluate the risk of pneumonia-induced sepsis by examining its linkage with polymorphisms of IL-6 and IL-10.

Materials and methods: Samples were obtained from 188 pneumonia-induced sepsis patients, 162 pneumonia patients and 200 healthy controls.

Results: Subjects with IL-10 -1082 AA genotypes and IL-6 -174?CC genotype had a higher risk of sepsis and increased mRNA levels.

Conclusion: The variants of IL-10 -1082 A allele and IL-6 -174 C allele contributed to an increased risk of pneumonia-induced sepsis.     

Utility of nociceptive flexion reflex threshold and bispectral index to predict movement responses under propofol anaesthesia

Introduction: The nociceptive flexion reflex threshold (NFRT) is a promising tool to monitor analgesia during general anaesthesia. Clinical studies have shown that the NFRT allows to predict movement responses to painful stimuli under a combined anaesthetic regime of sedative and opioid agents. Experimental studies indicated that the NFRT is also able to predict such movement responses under an exclusively sedative regime like propofol mono-anaesthesia. Therefore, we performed this study to investigate the ability of the NFRT to predict movement responses to painful stimuli in patients during a clinical propofol mono-anaesthesia.

Methods: We investigated 140 cardiac surgery patients during their postoperative phase under propofol mono-anaesthesia. NFRT and bispectral index (BIS) were determined in each patient right before endotracheal suctioning or painful electrical test stimulation. Prediction probabilities were calculated to quantify how accurate each measure is able to predict movement responses to the stimuli.

Results: The 124 patients included in the analysis received a median propofol dosage of 3.2 (2.5–3.9) [median (IQR)] mg/kg/h. The included patients showed 287 movement responses after a total of 725 investigated stimuli. The prediction probabilities for positive movement responses were 0.63 (95%CI: 0.59–0.67) for the NFRT and 0.69 (95%CI: 0.65–0.73) for the BIS.

Conclusions: The NFRT allows the prediction of movement responses under propofol mono-anaesthesia, which confirms its utility as a monitor to predict movement responses under general anaesthesia. The BIS allows an even more accurate prediction, although it does not reflect the physiological structures of movement suppression, but correlates closely with the dose of propofol.

Trial registration: German clinical trial register (DRKS00003062, Deutsches Register Klinischer Studien).     

Biomarker discovery for drug-induced phospholipidosis: phenylacetylglycine to hippuric acid ratio in urine and plasma as potential markers

Context: Drug-induced phospholipidosis is one of the significant concerns in drug development, especially in safety assessment and noninvasive diagnostic tool is highly desirable.

Objective: The objective of this study is to explored novel biomarkers for phospholipidosis using a metabolomic approach.

Method: NMR spectrometry and LC/MS/MS analyses were applied to urine and plasma of rats administrated cationic amphiphilic drugs.

Results: The phenylacetylglycine to hippuric acid ratio in plasma was increased in time and dose-dependent manners; and it was well correlated with histopathological observation.

Conclusion: The plasma phenylacetylglycine to hippuric acid ratio is a potential marker in monitoring drug-induced phospholipidosis.     

Impact assessment of risk parameters of underground coal mining on the environment

Coal is an important energy source but it has a significant negative impact on the environmental processes. This paper analyses the impact, measurement, and input of parameters representing potential environmental polluters in the information system (IS).

The methodology of recording and systematization includes the following parameters: coal deposits; climate parameters; roads; rivers; land and surrounding objects; air polluters; water polluters; and soil polluters. Methods for calculating land deformation, air polluter emissions, and noise impact are also presented.

Based on the number and specificity of analyzed data, the paper provides a concept of the IS and an overview of environmental impact of underground coal mine technological units. The concept was used to present the results of a research conducted at the underground coal mine “Soko” in Serbia.

The results of this research can help many potential users realize their goals. Those goals are preventive by nature, since negative environmental impact can be predicted, which enables the environmental protection experts to take appropriate measures.     

Ecotoxicity evaluation of PFBSK for the whole environmental compartments and comprehensive comparison of hazard and risk to PFOS

A series of perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS)-related substances are produced as the alternatives to corresponding perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). However, there is little reliable information about PFBS available for the whole ecotoxicology compartments. At present, its ecotoxicity of perfluorobutane sulfonate potassium (PFBSK) was selected as a typical PFBS chemical to investigate and evaluate its aquatic, terrestrial, microorganism and sediment toxicity according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) guideline under the framework of the REACH regulation. Meanwhile, the ecotoxicology hazard and risk for PFBSK and PFOS were compared comprehensively.

PFBSK did not show acute and chronic aquatic, microorganisms and terrestrial animal toxicity, while exhibited some terrestrial plants toxicity. The ecotoxicology of PFBSK decreased sharply except for terrestrial plants compared with PFOS. Especially, for acute and chronic aquatic ecotoxicity, PFBSK is lower than 100 times those of PFOS.

Although the similar terrestrial plants toxicity level was observed for PFBSK and PFOS, the lower risk of PFBSK was deduced for the reason that there was far less chances to be exposed and retained in the soil and sediment for its high water solubility and low adsorption.

In conclusion, PFBSK showed lower ecotoxicity hazard and risk than those of PFOS. PFBSK could be an environmental friendly alternative to PFOS.     

Circulating adiponectin as a biomarker in renal cell carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Context: Metabolic imbalance in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) can lead to abnormal adiponectin levels.

Objective: To evaluate circulating adiponectin as a detection or predictive marker for RCC.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search and meta-analysis was performed on studies reporting circulating adiponectin levels and RCC. The meta-analysis was performed using RevMan.

Results: Seven studies compared the circulating adiponection levels between RCC cases and controls. Adiponectin level was significantly lower in RCC cases compared to controls at pre-diagnosis and pre-operative time-points. RCC stage, grade and subtype did not affect adiponectin levels.

Conclusion: Low circulating adiponectin could be a predictive or risk factor for RCC.     

Matrix metalloproteinase multiplex screening identifies increased MMP-2 urine concentrations in women predicted to develop preeclampsia

Background: Preeclampsia, a pregnancy disorder characterized by hypertension and proteinuria, represents the leading cause of fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality in developing countries. The identification of novel and accurate biomarkers that are predictive of preeclampsia is necessary to improve the prognosis of patients with preeclampsia.

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of nine urinary metalloproteinases to predict the risk of preeclampsia development.

Methods: MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-7, MMP-8, MMP-9, MMP-10, MMP-12 and MMP-13 were analyzed in urine (early-pregnancy) from 17 women predicted to develop preeclampsia and 48 controls using the Bio-Plex Pro-Human MMP panel (Bio-Rad, Hercules, CA).

Results: Urinary MMP-2 showed differences between groups which allowed us to calculate an increased risk for PE development of up to 20 times among the study population.

Conclusion: Increased urinary concentration of MMP-2 at 12 and 16 weeks of gestation predicted an increased risk of developing preeclampsia in the study population.     

Blood markers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in cardioembolic stroke: systematic review and meta-analysis

Context: Various processes including inflammation and endothelial dysfunction have been implicated in the pathogenesis of cardioembolic (CE) strokes.

Objective: To review the evidence and investigate the association between immune-inflammatory biomarkers and CE strokes versus other stroke subtypes.

Methods: We systematically reviewed the literature (sources: MEDLINE, web-based register http://stroke-biomarkers.com, reference lists) with quality assessment and meta-analysis of selected articles.

Results: The most consistent association was found between C-reactive protein (CRP) and CE strokes when compared to other stroke subtypes (standardized mean difference 0.223 (0.116, 0.343); p?<?0.001)

Conclusions: Our findings confirm a possible association between selected inflammatory biomarkers and CE stroke.     

Fifty years of vegetation change in oceanic-montane liverwort-rich heath in Scotland

Background: Liverwort heath is considered in Scotland to be one of the vegetation types most vulnerable to environmental change, yet detailed insights into its dynamics are lacking.

Aims: To assess the nature and extent of plant compositional changes in liverwort heath over 50 years and relate this to environmental change drivers.

Methods: Vegetation plots previously recorded 20 and 50 years ago were re-surveyed to assess changes in species composition, plot-level species richness and between-plot variability, using several β-diversity indices and partitioning. The environmental indicator values of the species that showed most change were used to identify the environmental drivers of change.

Results: Liverwort heath in north-west Scotland has undergone compositional changes over 50 years, becoming more heterogeneous, and losing some of its distinct character. Dwarf shrubs and specialist liverworts have decreased, while graminoids have increased. Partitioning of change in β diversity indicated that mainly changes in species richness, rather than species turnover, have driven the taxonomic differentiation over time. Grazing, eutrophication and warmer and drier conditions were found to be potentially important drivers of the observed vegetation change.

Conclusions: Our results highlight the vulnerability of liverwort heath to environmental change.     

The role of recruitment and dispersal limitation in tree community assembly in Amazonian forests

Background: Species composition of plant communities is shaped by the interplay between dispersal limitation, environmental filters and stochastic events.

Aims: The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of dispersal limitation and environmental filtering on tree recruitment. To accomplish this, we employed the unified neutral theory of biodiversity and biogeography to examine migration within the metacommunity, defined as a set of interacting local communities linked by the dispersal of multiple potentially interacting species.

Methods: We sampled 12,975 individuals with dbh ≥ 1 cm in 26 1-ha permanent plots, including habitats of terra firme, transitional forests, várzea and campinarana, on the upper Madeira River, Brazilian Amazon.

Results: Campinarana drew individuals from outside the metacommunity species pool at a mean probability of recruitment of 0.06, a much lower probability than terra firme (0.31), transitional (0.21) and várzea forests (0.22). Environmental variables, such as water table depth, soil texture and fertility, were related to differences in community assembly.

Conclusions: Species abundance distribution and diversity patterns of plant assemblages in a large river landscape in the Amazon highlight the importance of environmental heterogeneity that conditions beta-diversity. The high variation in recruitment probabilities from the metacommunity species pool to local communities suggests high habitat variability in the process of maintaining patterns of local diversity.     

Effect of air movement on the thermal insulation of avian nests

Capsule: Air movement over a nest increases the rate of cooling within the nest cup but the walls provide good thermal insulation.

Aims: This study compared nests of six bird species of the families Fringillidae and Motacillidae to investigate the insulative properties in still and moving air treatments. It was hypothesized that differences in nest size and moving air would differ between species and would have a significant effect on insulatory values of the nests.

Methods: Nest dimensions were measured for a total of 35 nests from six species. Thermal properties of the nests were recorded using temperature loggers within nests placed in a wind tunnel under still and moving air conditions.

Results: Insulatory values and internal nest cooling rates were significantly increased by moving air. There was no significant difference between species for the thermal properties of nests but nest mass correlated with greater insulatory values and a lower rate of cooling within the nest cup. Nest wall thickness had no significant effect on the thermal characteristics of the nests.

Conclusion: The use of a constructed nest mitigated the effects of air movement but the differences between species reflected difference in nest mass rather than wall thickness.     

Bacterial pili,with emphasis on Mycobacterium tuberculosis curli pili: potential biomarkers for point-of care tests and therapeutics

Context: Novel biomarkers are essential for developing rapid diagnostics and therapeutic interventions

Objective: This review aimed to highlight biomarker characterisation and assessment of unique bacterial pili.

Methods: A PubMed search for bacterial pili, diagnostics, vaccine and therapeutics was performed, with emphasis on the well characterised pili.

Results: In total, 46 papers were identified and reviewed.

Conclusion: Extensive analyses of pili enabled by advanced nanotechnology and whole genome sequencing provide evidence that they are strong biomarker candidates. Mycobacterium tuberculosis curli pili are emphasised as important epitopes for the development of much needed point-of-care diagnostics and therapeutics.     

Association between high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T and future cardiovascular incidence in a general Japanese population: results from the Tohoku medical megabank project

Purpose: Elevation of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study determined whether hs-cTnT was detectable with N-terminal pro-b-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and related to CV risk factors in a general Japanese population.

Materials and methods: The Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization pooled individual participant data for a population-based cohort study in the Iwate prefecture (n?=?30,193, age = 60.2?±?11.5?year).

Results: Hs-cTnT levels were higher in participants with hypertension, diabetes mellitus than in participants without these conditions (all ps < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that NT-proBNP was strongly associated with elevation of hs-cTnT (OR = 3.35, 95% CI = 2.90–3.89, p?<?0.001). The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that hs-cTnT was one of useful biomarker for the differentiation of high risk for CVD (the Suita score ≥ 56) from a general population. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated hs-cTnT levels were related to the CVD high risk group (OR = 2.67, 95% CI = 2.28–3.14, p?<?0.001).

Conclusions: Hs-cTnT levels are associated with elevation of NT-proBNP and high Suita score, which suggests that elevated hs-cTnT is related to subclinical myocardial damage and indicates CV risk.     

Changes in moorland and heathland bird abundance in southwest England in relation to environmental change

Capsule: Population changes of many moorland and heathland birds in southwest England show associations with environmental change, and the area supports notable breeding populations of species of conservation concern.

Aims: To quantify changes in moorland and heathland breeding bird abundance in relation to changes in environmental variables.

Methods: A two-visit moorland bird survey method was used to estimate the abundance of 23 target bird species in 2008 and 2014 in Exmoor National Park, southwest England. Data on changes in 25 environmental variables over the same period were used to test associations between changes in bird abundance and environmental change.

Results: Fourteen species increased in abundance and nine decreased. Breeding species which wintered on or close to Exmoor were less likely to show negative population changes than species which migrated to winter in southern Europe or Africa. Change in abundance of 18 species was associated with change in at least one environmental variable, and these relationships were broadly consistent with the known ecology of these species.

Conclusion: Although some moorland species have declined or gone locally extinct, this area of moorland and heathland in southwest England remains an important stronghold for several species of high conservation concern. The maintenance of semi-natural moorland and heathland habitats in areas such as Exmoor may provide important refuges for such species, both now and in the future.