Characterization of emissions of volatile organic compounds from interior alkyd paint

Alkyd paint continues to be used indoors for application to wood trim, cabinet surfaces, and some kitchen and bathroom walls. Alkyd paint may represent a significant source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) indoors because of the frequency of use and amount of surface painted. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is conducting research to characterize VOC emissions from paint and to develop source emission models that can be used for exposure assessment and risk management. The technical approach for this research involves both analysis of the liquid paint to identify and quantify the VOC contents and dynamic small chamber emissions tests to characterize the VOC emissions after application. The predominant constituents of the primer and two alkyd paints selected for testing were straight-chain alkanes (C9-C12); C8-C9 aromatics were minor constituents. Branched chain alkanes were the predominant VOCs in a third paint. A series of tests were performed to evaluate factors that may affect emissions following application of the coatings. The type of substrate (glass, wallboard, or pine board) did not have a substantial impact on the emissions with respect to peak concentrations, the emissions profile, or the amount of VOC mass emitted from the paint. Peak concentrations of total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) as high as 10,000 mg/m3 were measured during small chamber emissions tests at 0.5 air exchanges per hour (ACH). Over 90% of the VOCs were emitted from the primer and paints during the first 10 hr following application. Emissions were similar from paint applied to bare pine board, a primed board, or a board previously painted with the same paint. The impact of other variable, including film thickness, air velocity at the surface, and air-exchange rate (AER) were consistent with theoretical predictions for gas-phase, mass transfer-controlled emissions. In addition to the alkanes and aromatics, aldehydes were detected in the emissions during paint drying. Hexanal, the predominant aldehyde in the emissions, was not detected in the liquid paint and was apparently an oxidation product formed during drying. This paper summarizes the results of the product analyses and a series of small chamber emissions tests. It also describes the use of a mass balance approach to evaluate the impact of test variables and to assess the quality of the emissions data.     

A genetical theory of species selection

The operating characteristics of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale were compared between Japanese and U.S. adult workers. Data were analyzed from age- and education-matched male white collar workers (n = 368 for each) selected from 2016 workers in Japan and 3059 in the United States. The U.S. data were obtained from the 1974-75 Augmentation Survey of the National Health and Examination Survey I. The Japanese responses to positively worded items markedly differed from those of U.S. workers, whereas responses to negatively worded items were generally comparable in the two groups. Thus, spuriously higher positive subscale and whole scale scores were found among the Japanese workers compared with U.S. workers (mean scores: 6.03 vs. 1.83 for the positive subscale and 9.94 vs. 5.35 for the whole scale, respectively; both differences were statistically significant). Negative subscale scores did not differ significantly in the two samples (3.91 vs. 3.52). The present study confirmed the hypothesis of Iwata et al. that Japanese respondents have a tendency to suppress the expression of positive affect.     

Gall-bladder changes in diabetics (author''s transl)]

The author provides a summary of developments in peer review and Professional Standards Review Organizations (PSROs) within APA, the federal government, and the American Medical Association between June 1974 and June 1975. He discusses the reaction of the medical profession to the interim guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare and the problems of financing PSROs. He concludes that the key issues for PSROs and peer review in general are the availability and effectiveness of local review components, and that lack of involvement on the part of psychiatry will only ensure that nonpsychiatrists will design the review procedures.     

Anti-Corrosion Paint and Varnish Coatings Employing Wastes from Coke and Coal Chemicals Production

The various shops of the West Siberian Metallurgical Combine operate 392 gas-cleaning units, and the combine annually spends 1.5 million rubles a year on major repairs to this equipment. The need to increase the service life of the air ducts is obvious. At the same time, the production of phthalic anhydride (PA) from commercial grades of naphthalene made at coke and coal chemicals plants also yields large quantities of waste products formed in oxidation reactions – still residues from the distillation of PA. These residues are currently used in coking charges. It is important that a way be found to recycle wastes from the production of phthalic anhydride, which is the main raw material used to make corrosion-resistant paints and lacquers. The goal of the research described below was to use PA production wastes to help develop promising new environmentally clean materials to protect metal from corrosion. Such materials are presently in very short supply. The problem was solved by taking two approaches: creating a new generation of paints – powdered polymer-based compositions without solvents, for painting pipes and rolled products; synthesizing chemically stable alkyls – epoxide primers for protecting existing equipment from abrasion and corrosion. The powdered polymer-based paints – which have an efficiency of 97–98% – harden in 10–30 min. One kilogram of one of these paints takes the place of 5 kg of oil-based paint, and the powder coatings last 2–3 times longer than solvent-based paints. The combine has developed and mastered the production of two types of powdered polymer-based paint: quick-drying epoxide paint PEFAN-501; decorative epoxide-polyester paint NOVOLAN-1605. A section to make these paints has been set up and equipped with three units that apply the paints in an electrostatic field. The combine has also developed a technology for using PA still residues to obtain an alkyl-epoxide primer for protecting gas pipes from corrosion. Experimental batches of the primer have been successfully tested on a section of gas pipe connected to the car dumper in the crushing-sorting plant operated by the sinter-lime department. It has been recommended that the technology be introduced by organizing a section directly within the PA shop to produce produce alkyl resins, lacquers, and primers. Such a section could supply the combine with all of the anti-corrosion materials it needs while making the shop itself more profitable.     

Aircraft conspicuity and flight attitude information provided by exterior paint patterns.

Experiments were conducted to determine the relative conspicuity of aircraft exterior paint patterns, and to investigate whether such paint patterns aided pilots in determining the attitude of the aircraft. The conspicuity studies, using paired comparisons of model airplanes, gave evidence that: (a) amount of red-orange fluorescent paint coverage is positively correlated with conspicuity; (b) high brightness paints should be placed on the upper surfaces of the aircraft and low brightness paints on the lower portions; (c) maximizing brightness contrasts between different parts of the aircraft surfaces does not enhance conspicuity; (d) flight attitudes, backgrounds, lighting conditions, and differences in Ss did not affect conspicuity significantly. The attitude studies in which pilots matched the model airplanes in some 1 of 15 attitudes, with 1 of 15 models mounted on a small display, indicated that the paint patterns used did not aid the pilots in making judgments of aircraft attitude. Differences in backgrounds and lighting conditions did not greatly affect Ss' ability to determine attitude. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Isotopic ratio analysis in residential lead-based paint and associated surficial dust

OBJECTIVES: This investigation assessed the contribution of lead in lead-based paint (7 samples) to lead-laden dust (8 samples) in a single suburban vacant residence using isotopic ratio analysis. METHODS: Interior/exterior lead-based paint surface concentration was measured by X-ray fluorescence while dust and scrapings were analyzed chemically for total lead content and by mass spectrometry for the associated isotopic ratios. RESULTS: Four out of 5 comparisons of paint (7 samples) and dust (8 samples) for a given location did not match isotopically. In the one location where the isotopic ratio of the paint and dust samples matched closely, some portions of the paint were not intact. One explanation for the isotopic ratio match is that the dust sample may have actually been contaminated with paint flecks. This explanation appears likely since the isotopic ratio for the lead in the dust and paint sample were not in the modern average range of US environmental lead, strongly indicating a local point source of the lead in this dust sample, namely the paint at this location. Lead dust samples whose isotopic ratio lies in the modern average range for US environmental lead cannot be correlated to the paint which is beneath them, since the isotopic ratio of lead in the dust may actually be a composite of many sources of lead over time, as suggested by an isotopic ratio in the modern average range. CONCLUSIONS: From the samples from this one house, the data dispute the contention that intact lead-based paint chalks and creates lead-contaminated dust on its surface. While leaded household dust may contribute to children's lead exposure, intact paint need not contribute to surficial lead-laden dust. Isotopic ratio measurements can be useful for point-source determination by virtue of sample match and by placement of the ratio on the spectrum of isotopic ratio values for lead. Point-source assessment based on isotopic ratio was either strengthened or weakened by placement outside or within the average range for US environmental lead, respectively.     

Risk factors for depression in primary care. Findings of the TADEP project

Lead stable isotope ratio (IR) analysis by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to examine the relationship between sources of Pb in 22 dust wipe samples collected from 10 homes in Jersey City, NJ. Common lead sources examined included interior lead-based paints, exterior soils and street dusts, and indoor air. High correlations between IRs of wipe samples and both street dusts and exterior soils indicated these two exterior sources were indistinguishable. They were treated as a single exterior source in a source apportionment using IR matching and a simple mixing model. The upper-bound estimate of the contribution of interior lead-based paints to 10 floor- and eight sill-wipe samples was 56% and 50%, respectively. It was not possible to apportion sources in four of the 22 samples because wipe sample IRs were outside the range of measured sources. Examination of means obscures the variability in the data, however, as eight of the 18 apportioned samples matched interior or exterior source media. In most cases, however, sources from outside the home contribute as much Pb to house dust wipe samples as interior lead-based paints.     

Investigation of East Chicago Ramp Collapse

A summary is presented of the investigation performed by the National Bureau of Standards (NBS), at the request of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, to determine the most likely cause of the collapse of a portion of a highway ramp in East Chicago, Indiana. The investigative effort included an extensive field study to ascertain the conditions prior to and after the accident. In addition, the NBS performed physical tests on key components of the temporary support system used to build the ramp. A structural analysis was performed to compute the magnitude of the forces acting in various components of the support system prior to the failure. The calculated forces were compared with the expected strengths of the structural components. It was concluded that the most likely triggering mechanism of the collapse was the cracking of concrete pads supporting a shoring tower. It was further concluded that there were four deficiencies that contributed directly to the collapse. Had any of these deficiencies not existed, it is unlikely that the collapse would have occurred.     

The fall in household size and the rise of the primary individual in the United States

The long-term fall in household size in the United States is discussed within the framework of the aging of the population, continuing as the effects of fertility and mortality decline accumulate. Using distributions of households by size from U.S. census data 1790-1970 and a components of change analysis on primary individuals for 1950-1974, household changes are related to demographic change for the periods 1790-1900, 1900-1950, and 1950-1974. Fertility and mortality declines have unambiguous impact on household size until the increases in primary individuals begin. But these, too, have a theoretically interesting, if indirect relationship to population structure.     

Source contribution of lead in house dust from a lead mining waste superfund site

The relative contribution to household dust of lead particles from a mining waste superfund site and lead-based paint is investigated. Automated individual particle analysis (IPA) based on scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray energy spectroscopy (EDX) is used to develop a classification algorithm for determining lead particle source contribution in household dust vacuum bags. On a volume basis the proportion derived from the mining waste is found to be 26%, the proportion derived from a paint source is 16%, and the proportion from soil is 37%. In 15% of the lead particles identified a specific originating source could not be determined. Using a weighting method accounting for the lead concentration per particle rather than volume the contributions were similar for mining waste and paint, 21% and 23%, respectively, but the soil contribution was reduced to 8%, and the source for 29% of the lead could not be identified. These results suggested that the contribution of waste piles to the lead present in household dust is at least as important a source as paint. There is evidence to suggest that a large percentage of lead in the soil also originated from the waste piles and the overall contribution, therefore, of the waste piles may be greater than the contribution from paint.     

Life-Cycle Cost Based Maintenance Plan for Steel Bridge Protection Systems

Life-cycle cost analysis was used to compare different alternative strategies for steel bridge paint systems. It was also used as a tool for steel bridge paint rehabilitation planning. The existing paint systems are lead-based and zinc-vinyl, while the new system is an inorganic/organic zinc, epoxy, and urethane paint system (three-coat). Economic analysis using present value (PV) and equivalent uniform annual cost (EUAC) was applied to compare several steel bridge paint system alternatives. The PV and EUAC were also used to compare different rehabilitation scenarios within the same alternative. Life-cycle cost analysis computations indicate that the three-coat paint system was better than others. Researchers concluded that the best scenario for three-cost system rehabilitation was doing spot repairs every 15 years of paint life. A maintenance plan based on life-cycle cost analysis also favored the “spot repairs every 15 years” scenario. A sensitivity analysis was also conducted to account for uncertainty in the cost, conditions, and subjective data.     

Tn10 transposition via a DNA hairpin intermediate

Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by microcephaly, a birdlike face, growth retardation, immunodeficiency, lack of secondary sex characteristics in females, and increased incidence of lymphoid cancers. NBS cells display a phenotype similar to that of cells from ataxia-telangiectasia patients, including chromosomal instability, radiation sensitivity, and aberrant cell-cycle-checkpoint control following exposure to ionizing radiation. A recent study reported genetic linkage of NBS to human chromosome 8q21, with strong linkage disequilibrium detected at marker D8S1811 in eastern European NBS families. We collected a geographically diverse group of NBS families and tested them for linkage, using an expanded panel of markers at 8q21. In this article, we report linkage of NBS to 8q21 in 6/7 of these families, with a maximum LOD score of 3.58. Significant linkage disequilibrium was detected for 8/13 markers tested in the 8q21 region, including D8S1811. In order to further localize the gene for NBS, we generated a radiation-hybrid map of markers at 8q21 and constructed haplotypes based on this map. Examination of disease haplotypes segregating in 11 NBS pedigrees revealed recombination events that place the NBS gene between D8S1757 and D8S270. A common founder haplotype was present on 15/18 disease chromosomes from 9/11 NBS families. Inferred (ancestral) recombination events involving this common haplotype suggest that NBS can be localized further, to an interval flanked by markers D8S273 and D8S88.     

Study of U.S. medical school applicants, 1974-75

The applicant activity for the 1974-75 first-year class in U.S. medical schools presents an unusual combination of statistics. There were more applicants than ever before, but the annual growth rate showed a decline, a trend that began in 1973-74; the national acceptance average remained unchanged; and the average application frequency per individual was accelerated. Most of the traditional tables cover five years of historical data (1970-71 through 1974-75), while the new features--acceptance success for first-time and repeat applicants and ability levels by acceptance success and application frequency--depict data for one year (1974-75). As in past studies, the conclusion enumerates major efforts instituted by the Association of American Medical Colleges to assist medical schools with admission problems. The most important innovations among these were two new task forces--one for minority admissions and one for financial aid.     

Morbidity and mortality associated with legal abortion

A personal letter presents some data on the death-to-case rate for legal abortions in the U.S. for 1972-1974, to show a study of sufficient scope to account for the normal wide range of variations encountered when attempting to measure mortality risks. The data are taken from that published by the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia, which is considered to encompass sufficient data. The relative safety of abortion is considered to be emphasized by the very low indications of statistical studies.     

The application of a standard color coding system to paint in forensic science

The procedure described for the measurement of paint colors represents an attempt to standardize the measurement of color in the forensic science service and provides a means of communicating colors between individuals. The effect of sample size on color comparisons has been discussed. It has been shown that color data collected from many control samples of paint flakes can provide the frequency of occurrence of paint colors. The errors involved in color comparisons have been assessed and the system has been shown to be a practicable one.     

Specialty Guidelines for the Delivery of Services by Industrial/Organizational Psychologists.

The present Specialty Guidelines are are supplements to the generic Standards for Providers of Psychological Services, originally adopted by the American Psychological Association (APA) in September 1974 and revised in January 1977 (APA, 1974b, 1977). These Specialty Guidelines for the Delivery of Services by Industrial/Organizational (I/O) Psychologists are designed to define the roles of I/O psychologists and the particular needs of users of I/O psychological services. Like the APA generic Standards, the I/O Specialty Guidelines are concerned with improving the quality, effectiveness, and accessibility of psychological services for all who require benefit from them. These Specialty Guidelines are intended to clarify questions of interpretation of the APA generic Standards as they are applied to I/O psychology. This document presents the APA's position on I/O practice. They have been established by the APA as a means of self-regulation to protect the public interest. They guide the specialty practice of I/O psychology by specifying important areas of quality assurance and performance that contribute to the goal of facilitating more effective human functioning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Specialty Guidelines for the Delivery of Services by School Psychologists.

The present Specialty Guidelines are based on the generic Standards for Providers of Psychological Services originally adopted by the American Psychological Association (APA) in September 1974 and revised in January 1977 (APA, 1974b, 1977b). Together with the generic Standards, these Specialty Guidelines state the official policy of the Association regarding delivery of services by school psychologists. Specialty guidelines serve the additional purpose of providing potential users and other interested groups with essential information about particular services available from the several specialties in professional psychology. The present Guidelines are intended to educate the public, the profession, and other interested parties regarding specialty professional practices. They are also intended to facilitate the continued systematic development of the profession. These Guidelines have been established by the APA as a means of self-regulation to protect the public interest. They guide the specialty practice of school psychology by specifying important areas of quality assurance and performance that contribute to the goal of facilitating more effective human functioning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Specialty Guidelines for the Delivery of Services by Clinical Psychologists.

The present Specialty Guidelines are based on the generic Standards for Providers of Psychological Services originally adopted by the American Psychological Association (APA) in September 1974 and revised in January 1977 (APA, 1974b, 1977b). Together with the generic Standards, these Specialty Guidelines state the official policy of the Association regarding delivery of services by clinical psychologists. Specialty guidelines serve the additional purpose of providing potential users and other interested groups with essential information about particular services available from the several specialties in professional psychology. The present Guidelines are intended to educate the public, the profession, and other interested parties regarding specialty professional practices. They are also intended to facilitate the continued systematic development of the profession. These Guidelines have been established by the APA as a means of self-regulation to protect the public interest. They guide the specialty practice of clinical psychology by specifying important areas of quality assurance and performance that contribute to the goal of facilitating more effective human functioning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Specialty Guidelines for the Delivery of Services by Counseling Psychologists.

The present Specialty Guidelines are based on the generic Standards for Providers of Psychological Services originally adopted by the American Psychological Association (APA) in September 1974 and revised in January 1977 (APA, 1974b, 1977b). Together with the generic Standards, these Specialty Guidelines state the official policy of the Association regarding delivery of services by counseling psychologists. Specialty guidelines serve the additional purpose of providing potential users and other interested groups with essential information about particular services available from the several specialties in professional psychology. The present Guidelines are intended to educate the public, the profession, and other interested parties regarding specialty professional practices. They are also intended to facilitate the continued systematic development of the profession. These Guidelines have been established by the APA as a means of self-regulation to protect the public interest. They guide the specialty practice of counseling psychology by specifying important areas of quality assurance and performance that contribute to the goal of facilitating more effective human functioning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Declining sperm counts in the United States? A critical review

PURPOSE: Recent reports suggest declining sperm counts in the United States. These reports did not include all available data and did not account for geographic variations noted in prior studies. We examined all available data on U.S. sperm counts and evaluated whether geographic variations account for the decline suggested. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed all 29 U.S. studies from 1938 to 1996 reporting manually counted semen analyses of 9,612 fertile or presumably fertile men. We determined mean sperm concentrations by geographic location with weighted analysis of variance, and assessed any changes with time by linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Mean sperm concentrations from New York were significantly higher than from all other U.S. cities (98.6 versus 71.6 x 10(6) sperm per cc, respectively, p = 0.006). There has been no statistically significant change with time for mean sperm concentrations reported from New York (p = 0.49) or from U.S. cities other than New York (p = 0.62). Analysis without separating by location revealed a decline (p = 0.047). CONCLUSIONS: Sperm concentrations are highest in New York compared to other U.S. cities. When accounting for this geographic difference and examining all available data, there appears to be no significant change in sperm counts in the U.S. during the last 60 years. Further studies addressing the causes of geographic variations are needed.