In this study, the micronucleus (MN) frequency was assessed as a measure of genotoxicity in exfoliated cells of buccal mucosa extracted from 110 petrol pump workers and 100 controls. For each individual, 3,000 exfoliated buccal cells were analyzed. The individuals used in the study were grouped based on their smoking, drinking alcoholic beverages, and tobacco chewing habits. There was a signifi...

Then, define u(xyz) = 100 ∗ U(x) + 10 ∗ U(y) + U(z), where x ∈ {red, blue, green}, y ∈ {electric, petrol, diesel}, and z ∈ {German, French,UK}. Observe that for all x, x′ ∈ {red, blue, green}with x 6= x′, and y, y′ ∈ {electric, petrol, diesel} with y 6= y′, and z ∈ {German, French,UK} we have that (i) |U(y)− U(y′)| > U(z), and (ii) |U(x)− U(x′)| > U(y) + U(z). Intuitively, this ensures that the...

The effect of post mortem contact of the skin with petrol was investigated in 18 corpses with exposure times between 10 min and 24 h. The earliest onset of skin changes was observed within 2 h of exposure. They consisted of swelling and wrinkling with detachment of the upper layers of the skin (positive Nikolski's sign). Histologically the lesions appeared as non-vital acantholyses located in t...

The Energy Tax Directive recently proposed by the European Commission envisages to tax fuels based on their energy content. By raising prices for diesel to a level higher than that of petrol, this proposal would eliminate the price advantage currently enjoyed by diesel in most EU Member States. To explore the implications of such a tax regime for automobile travel, the present analysis undertak...

Samples of urban air hydrocarbons were taken on specifically made adsorbent cartridges and analysed by gas chromatography after thermal desorption. The four isomeric butenes and 1,3-butadiene were favourably resolved and separated from the abundant alkanes on an aluminium oxide PLOT column. The concentrations of butadiene, reflecting outdoor urban exposure, were in the range of 0.5-5 micrograms...