Mobilization of lead from human bone tissue during pregnancy and lactation--a summary of long-term research

The skeleton is potential endogenous source of lead during pregnancy and lactation. We have undertaken a longitudinal investigation into the mobilization of lead from the human maternal skeleton to determine whether lead is mobilized from the maternal skeleton during pregnancy and lactation, and if so, when and how much is released. Subjects in the study were migrants to Australia (n=15) whose skeletal lead isotopic composition (endogenous lead) was different to that prevailing in the Australian environment (exogenous lead). This migrant cohort was compared with 6 multi-generational Australian controls. Biological and environmental samples were taken pre-pregnancy where possible, throughout pregnancy and postpartum for at least 6 months. Newly-born infants of the migrant and Australian mothers were monitored for 6 months. Blood lead concentrations for the migrant mothers ranged from 1.5 to 20 microg/dl (geometric mean 2.8) and for Australian mothers ranged from 1.9 to 4.3 microg/dl (geometric mean 2.9). There was minimal change in lead isotopic composition of the Australian pregnant controls although there were increases of approximately 40% in blood lead concentration in 3 of 6 cases during the postpartum period and from 0 to 12% in the other 3. In the migrant pregnant subjects, the geometric mean skeletal lead contribution to blood lead using the isotopic composition was approximately 33% (range 10-88%) for 14 subjects using a revised estimate for exogenous lead. Skeletal contribution to blood lead during the postpartum period was significantly greater than during pregnancy (P<0.001). The skeletal contributions to blood lead are higher and the changes are more consistent in those subjects who conceived within 100 days of arrival in Australia compared with those who conceived longer than 100 days. In the migrant subjects, changes in blood lead concentration during pregnancy and postpartum varied from subject to subject with an overall 20% increase; the increases during the postpartum period were greater than during pregnancy (P<0.001). It was estimated that the amount of maternal skeletal lead mobilized during pregnancy and transferred to the infant via cord blood averaged approximately 79%. The increased skeletal contribution to blood lead is attributed to a low daily calcium intake of approximately 500 mgCa/day, a condition which was present in both migrant and Australian subjects. An ongoing clinical trial is providing a new cohort with calcium supplements. A summary of other aspects of the study is included and covers: additional flux released from the skeleton during pregnancy and postpartum; XRF bone lead results; urinary excretion of lead during pregnancy and postpartum; dietary contribution to blood lead in female adults and children; comparison of rates of exchange of lead in blood of newly-born infants and mothers; relationships of lead in breast milk to lead in blood, urine and diet of the infant and mother; changes in blood lead after cessation of breastfeeding; urinary lead isotopes during pregnancy and postpartum indicate no preferential partitioning of endogenous lead into plasma; a comparison of some aspects of the nonhuman primate and human pregnancy studies.     

Full scale fire tests for ship accommodation quarters

Ten full-scale test fires were conducted in a chamber simulating a three person ship accommodation quarter. The test fires used three different ventilation conditions, two types of bunks and furnishings with either polyurethane foam or chloroprene foam. The chamber was instrumented to follow the development of the fire.The furnishings with polyurethane foam were readily ignited and produced an intense fire within 2 to 4 minutes. The furnishings with chloroprene foam ignited but burned slowly with a small flame or in smoldering combustion.The ventilation conditions had a significant effect on the development and intensity of the fire as the test fires were burning under oxygen-limiting conditions.The solid pan bunks retarded the early development of the fire compared to open bunks for polyurethane furnishings. However, once the mattresses on the three bunks were ignited the intensity of the test fires was similar for both types of bunks.     

Selective removal of gallium (III) from aqueous solutions containing zinc or aluminum using sodium di-(n-octyl) phosphinate

Gallium was removed selectively from aqueous solutions containing zinc or aluminum using sodium di-(n-octyl) phosphinate as a ligand (NaL). At low pH or low mole ratios, the gallium was removed by complexation with the ligand as GaL(3(S)), while the zinc or the aluminum remained in the solution. Nearly complete separation of gallium was obtained. By increasing the amount of ligand or by increasing the pH, the zinc or aluminum remaining in the solution was then removed as a solid complex: ZnL(2(S)) or AlL(3(S)), respectively. At a pH between 1.5 and 2 and a mole ratio ligand to total metals of 0.75 for zinc solutions and 1.0 for aluminum solutions, more than 98% of the gallium was selectively removed with a high molar selectivity, alpha(Ga/Zn) and alpha(Ga/Al), respectively. Over 95% of gallium was recovered from the solid GaL(3(S)) complex by treatment of the complex with a 3M NaOH solution and diethyl ether. The gallium was concentrated in the aqueous solution to 4 times its initial concentration and the ligand was extracted into the ether phase. After evaporation of the ether, 95% of the ligand was regenerated in its sodium form as a solid.     

Compensation for extra preliminary and general (P & G) cost arising from delays, variations and disruptions: the palmiet pumped storage scheme

Underground construction is notorious for high cost and time overruns. This is probably inherent in the nature of the work, which usually involves high risks on the part of both the employer and the contractor, in view of the extent of the uncertainties with regard to such factors as geology, appropriate design and performance. The main civil works constructed for South Africa's Palmiet Pumped Storage Scheme between 1983 and 1987 have demonstrated that with early identification and proper management of the risks and costs, the value of cost and time overruns can be curtailed to a very large extent. This paper describes broadly the process adopted on the project, focusing in particular on the successful management at Palmiet of the financial risks pertaining to the cost of the contractor's overheads, establishment, supervision and plant in a contract that was known to be subject to variations, extensions and delays. This was achieved by appropriate scheduling, provisions for payment and on-site management of these cost items, usually described broadly as the Preliminary and General (P & G) Items. These items accounted for 34% of the value of the contract.     

Limit analysis of reinforced concrete cylindrical shell roofs

Two approximate yield criteria are proposed for reinforced concrete cylindrical shell element. Three lower bound solutions are developed for cylindrical shell roofs with free longitudinal edges. Two shells with different geometric parameters are analysed. Elastic analysis is also done at working load. Graphs are presented to show the variation of stress resultants at critical sections.     

Protocatechuic acid ozonation in aqueous solutions

The oxidation of protocatechuic acid with ozone in aqueous solution has been studied varying the temperature, pH, ozone partial pressure and initial acid concentration. A stoichiometric ratio of 2 mol of ozone consumed per mol of protocatechuic acid reacted is deduced from homogeneous experiments in a discontinuous tank reactor.In the ozonation experiments, the influence of the operating variables was established and the kinetic regime of ozone absorption was shown to be fast and pseudo m-order with respect to ozone, except at pH 2, when the reaction develops in the moderate kinetic regime. After applying a mass transfer with chemical reaction model, the reaction orders are deduced and the kinetic rate constants are determined as a function of pH and temperature. A modified Arrhenius expression is proposed to correlate them.     

Compartment tests of polyurethane foam seating assemblies

Data from compartment tests of polyurethane foam seating assemblies are reported. Results show that the behavior of such assemblies during fires is strongly dependent on the type and position of interliners and upholstery fabrics. An incidental comparison of peak rate of heat release obtained in a compartment test with a predictive model equation is made and selected data from the tests are presented.     

Geomechanical model simulation for the varied rock formations of the Kadana dam foundation,Gujarat, India

Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment - Precambrian layered rocks consisting of quartzites, phyllites and metagreywackes of the Aravallis having a large variation in thickness,...     

Dynamic analysis and optimal feedback control synthesis applied to biological waste treatment

The dynamics and optimal feedback control of biological waste treatment processes are examined. Modern feedback control theory is applied and results are obtained for both proportional and proportional plus integral control. A dynamic mathematical model of the system is developed by employing a Monod kinetic model, which is modified to account for endogenous metabolism, and a complete mixing flow model in the growth chamber. The feedback control is implemented via the flow rate so as to maintain desired effluent concentrations. External disturbances which cause changes in substrate concentration and/or cell concentration are considered and optimal control effort is applied. Results are also presented for impulse and step changes in the influent substrate concentration. It is found that by changing the values of the weighting factors in the objective function, it is possible to obtain good control of either the effluent substrate concentration or cell concentration.     

Fire detector systems with ‘distributed intelligence’ the pulse polling system

Well over a million fire detectors are currently in use in the Federal Republic of Germany. Provided they are correctly installed and efficiently maintained, they detect fires reliably at a very early stage. At the present time, the false alarm rate equals about 1% of the number of installed detectors per annum. This false alarm rate must be at least proportionately reduced as further detectors are installed.

Since it is scarcely possible to improve tried-and-tested detector designs, the employment of higher-grade detector signal processing methods suggests itself.

However, ‘more intelligent’ detector signal processing using microprocessors calls for an entirely new fire detection system structure: detectors which independently ‘decide’ whether an alarm criterion is met and then initiate an alarm are replaced by sensors which continuously transmit their measured values to the ‘intelligence’ panel for evaluation. Passive panels which simply receive alarm signals from activated detectors and indicate these or transmit them to the fire brigade are replaced by active processors using permanently improved algorithms for the detection of real fires.

A structural change of this type is possible provided the positive — and the customary — characteristics of the conventional technique are not lost, viz. two-wire lines between detector and panel, simple installation and handling, easy detector replaceability, low cost, etc.

The pulse detector technology is described in detail; it combines the simplicity of conventional fire detection systems with new characteristics, e.g. identification of individual detectors, permanent functional check of all connected detectors, automatic notification of maintenance requirement prior to a slowly developing fault (e.g. such as that caused by corrosion or contamination), uniform response sensitivity unaffected by drifting from the operating points of the detectors and, above all, greater protection against false alarms.