Air samples collected in the German part of the North Sea from March to July 2010 were investigated for organophosphorus compounds (OPs) being applied as flame retardants and plasticizers. The ∑(8)OPs concentration ranged from 110 to 1400 pg m(-3) while tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCPP) dominated all samples with individual concentrations up to 1200 pg m(-3). The highest concentrations w...

Worker Cooperatives and Democratic Governance A worker co-operative is a firm that is owned and managed by those who work in it. This paper provides a selective review of research in economics on worker cooperatives. It concentrates on the volatility of earnings and employment in the co-ops compared with conventional capitalist firms; on the long-term viability of co-ops; on the relative produc...

This study investigated the degradation pathway of metoprolol, a widely used β-blocker, in the ozonation via the identification of generated ozonation by-products (OPs). Structure elucidation of OPs was performed using HPLC coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight high-resolution mass spectrometry. Seven OPs were identified, and four of these have not been reported elsewhere. Identified OPs of me...

Data on blood cholinesterase levels in the Malaysian population is lacking. The spectrophotometric method of Ellman was used to determine the red cell, plasma and whole blood cholinesterase (ChE) levels in 407 Malaysian blood donors. The mean+1SD for plasma ChE in females (n = 48) was 2.37 + 0.70 umol/min/ml and 2.76 + 0.75 umol/min/ml in males (n = 359). The mean plasma ChE in males was higher...

Background: Acute organophosphate poisoning (AOPP) is related to several clinical complications that may be fatal. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of demographic, clinical and laboratory findings on AOPP outcome. Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, medical records of all patients with AOPP admitted to Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad, Iran, were reviewed from Jan...

BACKGROUND Although numerous studies examine catastrophic health expenditures (CHE) worldwide, most focus on whole populations rather than specific vulnerable groups. This study analyzes the extent, associated factors and inequality of CHE in elderly household with chronic disease patients in China. METHODS Data were obtained from a nationally representative elderly household survey-the China...

BACKGROUND Erythrocyte cholinesterase (RBC-ChE) activities serve as useful and sensitive biomarkers to monitor exposure to cholinesterase-inhibiting substances, such as chemical warfare nerve agents and pesticides. Although the interindividual variation of RBC-ChE is well characterized, the magnitude of intraindividual variation for RBC-ChE remains controversial. An accurate measure of intraind...

Possibility of monitoring insecticide resistance in the diamondback moth by analyzing the insensitivity of cholinesterase (ChE) which is resistant to organophosphates and carbamates was investigated. Four kinds of ChE genotypes were found and inherited by incomplete dominance factors. Against propoxur and monocrotophos, each ChE genotype showed LD50 in proportion to the values of I50. Differenc...