Inhalation Intake Research Articles

Prospects for the development of inhalation drugs for the provision of pre-hospital assistance to affected by hazardous chemical substances

Abstract. Pharmacological agents are analyzed, in respect of which it is advisable to develop dosage forms for inhalation use as medical means of protection at the prehospital stage of medical evacuation in case of damage by emergency-hazardous chemicals. It was found that the inhalation intake of hazardous chemicals, especially with a pronounced pulmonotoxic, irritating and generally poisonous effect, is highly likely to develop post-intoxication complications associated with damage to the lung parenchyma, and death. For the therapy of such intoxications, it is advisable to administrate drugs in a dosage form for inhalation administration, which have several advantages: high bioavailability, rapid onset of effect, and severity of local action in various parts of tracheobronchial tree. The data of experimental and clinical studies of the effectiveness of drugs belonging to various pharmacological groups allow us to recommend for the further development of inhaled forms of means of prevention and treatment of toxic pulmonary edema (fluticasone, roflumilast, rolipram). Bronchodilators and donors of sulfhydryl groups (ipratropium bromide, tiotropium bromide, atropine sulfate, fenoterol, salbutamol, formoterol, unitiol dimercaprol) are referred to means of correction of respiratory disorders of various etiologies. Diazepam, midazolam, clonazepam, lorazepam are considered to be the most likely anticonvulsants from the enzodiazepine-class suitable for inhalation. Acetylcysteine, hydroxycobalamin can be used to combat hypoxia. The principal possibility of inhalation application of bioscavengers (acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase) for the treatment of cholinopositive symptoms of toxic genesis is shown. Existing methods and means of delivery allow the use of these drugs at the prehospital stage of medical evacuation as part of single dose metered powder inhalers.

A Case Report on Challenging Management of Multiple Neoplasms in Elderly

Multiple primary malignancies especially in the head and neck region is no longer a rare occurrence and the prevalence is increasing. They were described as synchronous when the malignancies present within 6 months of another or metachronous tumors if the subsequent malignancy presents 6 months later. Many etiologies had been hypothesised including similar carcinogens exposure, genetic susceptibility and mutation, immunodeficiency or treatment of the index tumor. Among the hypotheses, the most accepted theory was field cancerisation in which the occurrence of multiple primaries in the aerodigestive tract was due to persistent exposure of similar carcinogens through inhalation or oral intake . However the co-incidence of thyroid and aerodigestive malignancies is relatively low. Hereby we would like to report a case of a 74 years old lady with known esophageal squamous cell carcinoma presented with metachronous laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and papillary micro carcinoma of thyroid.

Pollution characteristics, sources, and health risk of atmospheric phthalate esters in a multi-function area of Hangzhou, China.

Phthalate esters (PAEs) are widely used in the manufacturing of plastics, and their demands have grown rapidly, especially in China, which will lead to much more environmental pollution of PAEs. In this study, fourteen common PAEs in ambient air were investigated during non-typhoon and typhoon seasons in a mixed multi-functional area of Hangzhou, China. The average concentrations of ∑14 PAEs in gaseous and PM2.5-bound phase (G-PAEs and P-PAEs) were 2317 ng/m3 and 128 ng/m3 during sampling period, while the mean concentrations of total PAEs in non-typhoon and typhoon seasons were 2412 ng/m3 and 2183 ng/m3, respectively. Bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) was the most abundant one, averagely accounting for 63.2% of G-PAEs and 88.3% of P-PAEs. Relative humidity showed a significant negative correlation with short-chain PAE (r = - 0.479, P < 0.01) and long-chain PAE (r = - 0.305, P < 0.05) concentrations in non-typhoon and typhoon seasons, and O3 could degrade G-PAEs through photoreaction. Source identification by the positive matrix factorization model and conditional probability function indicated that P-PAEs were mainly from the release from indoor environment (43%), PVC source (34%), construction source (12%), and industry source (11%). Air mass transport from both inland and oceans affected the PAE pollution in non-typhoon season, while its long-range transport from oceans took an important role in typhoon season. The daily inhalation intakes of PAEs for infants, teenagers, and adults were estimated, which showed that infants experienced the highest exposure risk.

Causes, signs and medical care for poisoning with toxic technical fluids

Quite often, poisoning with toxic chemical liquids occurs when they are consumed instead of alcoholic beverages. In case of spills of toxic technical liquids, especially in closed rooms, conditions are created for inhalation and transcutaneous intake of toxic substances into the body. When these liquids come into contact with the skin, toxic dermatitis occurs, up to the detachment of the epidermis.

Uranium Aerosol Activity Size Distributions at a Nuclear Fuel Fabrication Plant.

Inhalation of uranium aerosols is a concern in nuclear fuel fabrication. Determination of committed effective doses and lung equivalent doses following inhalation intake requires knowledge about aerosol characteristics; e.g., the activity median aerodynamic diameter (AMAD). Cascade impactor sampling of uranium aerosols in the breathing zone of nuclear operators was carried out at a nuclear fuel fabrication plant producing uranium dioxide via ammonium uranyl carbonate. Complementary static sampling was carried out at key process steps. Uranium on impaction substrates was measured using gross alpha counting and alpha spectrometry. Activity size distributions were evaluated for both unimodal and bimodal distributions. When a unimodal distribution was assumed, the average AMAD in the operator breathing zone at the workshops was 12.9–19.3 μm, which is larger than found in previous studies. Certain sampling occasions showed variable isotope ratios (234U/238U) at different impactor stages, indicating more than one population of particles; i.e., a multimodal activity size distribution. When a bimodal distribution (coarse and fine fraction) was assumed, 75–88% of the activity was associated with an AMAD of 15.2–18.9 μm (coarse fraction). Quantification of the AMAD of the fine fraction was associated with large uncertainties. Values of 1.7–7.1 μm were obtained. Static sampling at key process steps in the workshops showed AMADs of 4.9–17.2 μm, generally lower than obtained by breathing zone sampling, when a unimodal distribution was assumed. When a bimodal distribution was assumed, a smaller fraction of the activity was associated with the coarse fraction compared to breathing zone sampling. This might be due to impactor positioning during sampling and sedimentation of large particles. The average committed effective dose coefficient for breathing zone sampling and a bimodal distribution was 1.6–2.6 μSv Bq−1 for 234U when Type M/S absorption parameters were assumed (5.0 μSv Bq−1 for an AMAD of 5 μm). The corresponding lung equivalent dose coefficient was 3.6–10.7 μSv Bq−1 (29.9 μSv Bq−1 for an AMAD of 5 μm). The predicted urinary excretion level 100 d after inhalation intake was found to be 13-34% of that corresponding to an AMAD of 5 μm. Uranium aerosols generated at a nuclear fuel fabrication plant using ammonium uranyl carbonate route of conversion were associated with larger AMADs compared to previous work, especially when sampling of aerosols was carried out in the operator breathing zone. A bimodal activity size distribution can be used in calculations of committed effective doses and lung equivalent doses, but parameters associated with the fine fraction must be interpreted with care due to large uncertainties.

Pectins in prevention of acute poisoning

The purpose of the review is to analyze the possibilities of using of pectin enterosorbents for the prevention of acute poisoning. Low-esterified pectins exhibit high sorbing activity against multicharged cations, are highly adhesive to the mucous membranes of the digestive tract and are able to reduce non-specifically the permeability of the enterohematic barrier. The expected duration of the preventive effect of pectin enterosorbents is 4-5 hours after their administration. In combination with good tolerability and ease of use, this indicates the prospects of low-esterified pectins as means of drug prevention of acute poisoning in case of increased risk of oral or inhalation intake of heavy metals, nuclear fission materials and nuclear fission products.

Оценка радиационной опасности пребывания населения и ведения хозяйственной деятельности в районе расположения выработанного уранового месторождения

Purpose: To analize radiation situation in the vicinity of mine number one of the Lermontov Production Association “Almaz” in the areas of the public residence and economic activities.&#x0D; Material and methods: During the study, methods of pedestrian gamma surveys with a portable spectrometric complex MKS-01A “Multirad-M” and short-term measurements of radon equivalent equilibrium concentration with aerosol alpha radiometer RAA-20P2 “Poisk” were used.&#x0D; Results: Along the main roads used by the population for walks and rest, the values of the gamma ambient dose equivalent rate vary within the range between 0.10 and 0.86 μSv/h. Local areas with excess of the remediation criterion (0.6 μSv / h), established by the Sanitary Rules for elimination, conservation and changing functions of facilities for radioactive ore mining and milling (SP LKP-91), are located on the ascent of Beshtau Mountain from the side of the Town of Pyatigorsk (near tunnels and dumps). Along other routes, the remediation criteria are met. External effective doses to the population in a single passage of the routes vary from 1.0 to 1.6 µSv. The highest contribution to the dose from manmade radiation does not exceed 30 %. The highest external doses (4.3 μSv at the contribution of manmade radiation about 70 %) can be realized when resting near the most contaminated parts of the dumps or tunnel mouths. &#x0D; The equivalent equilibrium concentrations of radon progenies in air along the routes did not exceed 60 Bq/m3. The effective internal dose due to inhalation intake of radon and its progenies will not exceed 3 μSv when single passing routes.&#x0D; Conclusions: In the main areas of the residence and economic activity of the population in the vicinity of mine number 1 , the radiation situation at some locations does not comply with the requirements of the SP LKP-9, however, it does not pose a threat to public health.

Spatial distribution, mobility and potential health risks of arsenic and lead concentrations in semiarid fine top-soils of Durango City, Mexico

Significant amounts of mining wastes containing Fe-oxide rich phases (i.e., hard rock dumps, tailing impoundments) have been historically deposited in semiarid soils within Durango City. Urban mapping along with mineralogical and geostatistical analyses were carried out to determine levels of concentration, spatial distribution, and relationships between As-bearing and Pb-bearing phases and their mobilities for different sites around this city. It was found that fine As-bearing particles (<5–10 μm) comprised of Pb3(AsO4)2-like, FeAsS, and complex structures were the main phases in urban sprawl soil, while PbO2-like, PbS, and (Ba, Pb)SO4-like were the main Pb-bearing phases (<5 μm). Levels of As and Pb vary in urban sprawl soil from 4.37 to 42 and 8.3 to 82.5 mg kg−1, respectively, and are higher in the soil adjacent to Cerro de Mercado, where the mining area is conurbated, from 55.1 to 221 and 21.6 to 107.3 mg kg−1, respectively. Most of these concentrations were associated with the finest soil fraction (<10–250 μm), enhancing health risks due to inhalation or incidental intake. The spatial distribution patterns of these elements were mainly related to high traffic density and mining waste for Pb, and eolic dispersion of fine soil particles for As. A low mobility was found for Pb (up to 3%), indicating a low environmental risk if released, whereas As mobility changes from a low to a medium risk level (0.1–37.1%). Geostatistical analysis suggested correlations between soil pollution and distance regarding hard rock and tailing impoundment sources.

Spatially high-resolved monitoring and risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in an industrial city

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were monitored at 20 sites in semi-rural, urban, and industrial areas of Ulsan, the largest industrial city in South Korea, for one year. The target compounds were the 16 priority PAHs designated by the US Environmental Protection Agency except for naphthalene, acenaphthene, and acenaphthylene. Gaseous PAHs collected using polyurethane foam-based passive air samplers (PUF-PASs) and particulate PAHs predicted using gas/particle partitioning models were used to estimate the human health risks. The mean total cancer risk through inhalation intake and dermal absorption for all target age groups (children, adolescents, adults, and lifetime) ranged from 0.10 × 10-7 to 2.62 × 10-7, lower than the acceptable risk level (10-6), thus representing a safe level for residents. The cancer risk through dermal absorption and inhalation intake was predicted to be highest in winter, mostly due to the higher concentrations of PAHs, especially high-molecular-weight species with greater toxicity. Additionally, gaseous and particulate PAHs contributed more to dermal absorption and inhalation intake, respectively. As a consequence of local emissions and advection, the risks were higher in the industrial and semi-rural areas. This study suggests that human health risks can be cost-effectively mapped on a local scale using passive air sampling.

An improved method of nasal swab analysis for assessing alpha internal radioactive contaminants

When responding to nuclear and radiological emergencies, rapid and on-site detections of possible internal radioactive contaminants are required for early dose estimation and medical triage. Nasal swab analysis is an effective method to provide valuable information for early and fast estimates of alpha radionuclide inhalation intakes and resultant doses. In this study, to improve the quality of nasal swab measurements, a specialised double-detector alpha counter was designed. Various parameters including swab materials, sample pre-preparation, angle-dependence and vacuum dependence were investigated to optimise the reliability and convenience of the nasal swab method. An improved procedure of direct nasal swab measurement was eventually established, which could be used to obtain early data for initial dose assessment during the first response of nuclear and radiological emergencies.

Estimation of human exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) based on the dietary and outdoor atmospheric monitoring in the Czech Republic

In everyday life, humans can be exposed to various chemicals including ubiquitous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) mostly through food consumption and/or inhalation. In the presented study, we evaluated PAH concentrations in duplicate samples (n = 251). Concurrently, the outdoor concentrations of PM2.5-bound PAHs in filters (n = 179) were also monitored. The daily exposure to PAHs was subsequently estimated for the risk group of pregnant women living in two different cities (Most city and Ceske Budejovice city) in the Czech Republic. This is the first unique study in Europe to evaluate human daily exposure to 20 PAHs both from inhalation (outdoor air) and dietary intake. For the analysis of samples collected during the years 2016/2017, a gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry was applied. Focusing on the diet samples, a slightly higher sum of detected PAHs was measured in duplicates obtained from the mothers living in the Most city (0.115–186 ng g−1) compared to the Ceske Budejovice city (0.115–97.1 ng g−1). This could be due to a higher occurrence of major analytes (pyrene, phenanthrene and fluoranthene) and the different composition of daily diet. The values of toxic and most often detected substance, namely benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), were also higher by 35% in the Most city. Regarding the outdoor air contamination (only particulate phase – PM2.5 was assessed), here the opposite situation was observed, relatively higher amounts of all PAHs were monitored in the Ceske Budejovice city (median: 2.22 ng m−3) than in the Most city (median: 1.07 ng m−3). These higher PAH concentrations in the Ceske Budejovice city are probably caused by more intense traffic, higher population and also by the occurrence of old-fashioned heating plant. Depending on a seasonal variability, especially during the cold season, the concentrations of BaP exceeded the European average emission limit (1 ng m−3) by 1.5–6 times. This highest inhalation exposure to all PAHs was observed in February. However, the dietary intake still represents the dominant contributor (>90%) to the total PAH exposure.

Impact of heavy metal contamination : An overview

The issue of heavy metal pollution is very much concerned because of their toxicity for plant, animal and human beings and their lack of biodegradability. Excess concentrations of heavy metals have adverse effects on plant metabolic activities hence affect the food production qualitatively and quantitatively. Heavy metal when reaches human tissues through various absorption pathways such as direct ingestion, dermal contact, diet through the soil-food chain, inhalation and oral intake may seriously affect their health. Therefore, several management practices are being applied to minimize metal toxicity by attenuating the availability of metal to the plants. Some of the traditional methods are either extremely costly or they are simply applied to isolate contaminated site. The biology-based technology like use of hypermental accumulator plants occurring naturally or created by transgenic technology, in recent years draw great attention to remediate heavy metal contamination. Recently applications of nanoparticle for metal remediation are also attracting great research interest due to their exceptional adsorption and mechanical properties and unique electrical property, highly chemical stability and large specific surface area. Thus, the present review deals with different management approaches to reduce level of metal contamination in soil and finally of the food chain

Report of the Japan Health Physics Society ad hoc working group for the Plutonium intake accident**An original WG report was published in Jpn J Health Physics, 53(4).271-281 (2018). ‘JHPS Working Group for Plutonium Accident in JAEA-Oarai, Satoshi IWAI, Michiya SASAKI, Shogo HIGAKI, Hirokuni YAMANISHI and Michiaki KAI’ (in Japanese). To share the original report, it has been translated into English

This paper describes an overview of the radiation protection response to the Plutonium intake accident that occurred at the Plutonium Fuel Facility of the Oarai Research and Development Center of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency on 6 June 2017. In the hood of the analyzing room at the Plutonium Fuel Facility five workers were checking a storage container of fast reactor nuclear fuel material. Around 11:15 a.m., vinyl bags inside the fuel material container containing Plutonium and enriched uranium burst during the inspection work. All the workers heard the bang, which caused misty dust leakage from the container. This event caused significant both skin and nasal α-contamination for three workers and just skin α-contamination for one worker. Decontamination was conducted in the shower room. Then the five workers were transferred to the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Engineering Laboratory to evaluate inhalation intake of Plutonium etc in the lungs. The maximum values of 2.2 × 104 Bq for 239Pu and 2.2 × 102 Bq for 241Am were estimated by the lung monitor. Based on these results, injection of a chelate agent was conducted for prompt excretion of Plutonium etc. The next morning, the five workers were transferred to the National Institute of Radiological Sciences for treatment including decontamination of their skin and measurement by a lung monitor. At that time no obvious energy peak was confirmed for Plutonium. The Japan Health Physics Society launched an ad-hoc working group for Plutonium intake accident around the middle of June to survey issues and to extract lessons for radiological protection. The authors, who are the members of the ad-hoc working group, here report the activity of the working group.

INHALATION OF TRANSURANIC ELEMENTS IN CASE OF EMERGENCIES IN THE EXCLUSION ZONE OF THE CHERNOBYL NPP

Relevance. In the radioactive contamination territory, any work must be carried out with mandatory individual dosimetric monitoring of participants using all the irradiation pathways. However, at present, the control of personnel exposure through the respiratory organs is not carried out due to the lack of methodological and technical support.Intention. To estimate the irradiation doses of personnel expected as a result of inhalation of transuranic elements during fires in the Belarusian sector of the Chernobyl exclusion zone.Methodology. The objects of research are aerosol particles containing137Cs,90Sr,238Pu,239Pu,240Pu,241Pu and241Am, formed as a result of high temperature sublimation and combustion of forest materials. The subject of research is the irradiation doses of personnel as a result of inhalation intake of137Cs,90Sr,241Am,238Pu,239Pu,240Pu and241Pu during fire fighting.Results and Discussion. The expected doses of internal irradiation in fire extinguishing participants in the Belarusian sector of the Chernobyl exclusion zone due to inhalation of transuranic elements were estimated. The assessments were carried out both by direct measurements of the volume activity of radionuclides in the breathing zone of fire fighting participants and via calculations. It is shown that the contribution of137Cs to the “inhalation” dose of personnel can be only 1 %. It is established that in the Belarusian sector of the Chernobyl exclusion zone the contribution of transuranic elements to the expected effective dose of internal radiation is about 60 %. Radiation doses of personnel expected as a result of inhalation of radionuclides did not exceed 0.1 mSv per year, which is significantly less than the control level established in the Polesye State Radiation Ecological Reserve for personnel (5 mSv per year).Conclusion. The proposed methods make it possible to conservatively assess the expected inhalation doses in personnel in case of fire fighting in the exclusion zone of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, as well as to ensure their accounting for individual dosimetric control.

Assessment of self- and cross-absorbed SAF values for HDRK-man using Geant4 code: internal photon and electron emitters

The ultimate need to account for the partial amount of energy deposited in target tissue/organ resulting from internal inhalation, ingestion, and injection intakes of radionuclides, defined by the Medical Internal Radiation Dosimetry committee as the specific absorbed fraction (SAF), has become obvious. In this study, we assessed the SAF values for self- and cross-absorption, which were calculated for a uniform distribution of monoenergetic photon and electron emitters with energies ranging from 15 keV to 3 MeV. The voxelized human phantom “High-Definition Reference Korean-man” (HDRK-man), which was implemented using the Monte Carlo simulation code Geant4 (version 10.1), was used for several combinations of target–source organs. The results were compared to those of the International Commission on Radiological Protection Reference (ICRP133) and Zubal phantoms. It was found that the SAF values of the three models have a similar trend. However, the SAF values for the HDRK-man phantom were higher than those of the other two models, with a relatively good agreement with those for the ICRP133 phantom (differences of 13.9 ± 2.8 and 12.1 ± 3.2 for photon and electron emitters, respectively). To analyze the differences in SAF values, we calculated the chord length distributions (CLDs) for selected target–source combinations. The parameters of organ mass (or volume) and CLDs, in addition to the adopted computational procedures, mainly cause such discrepancies. For realistic radionuclide emission spectra, an overall overestimation was observed when computing the S values for three radiopharmaceuticals studied (I-131, In-111, and Lu-177) and for liver–spleen intra- and inter-organ absorption when compared with published data. The new arrangement of S and SAF values is expected to add value for multidisciplinary research and clinical communities.

Characterization of Aerosol Release during Spraying of Isocyanate Products.

The aerosol release during the professional application of two different isocyanate based two component spray systems was identified and the physicochemical properties of the released airborne aerosols were characterized. For this purpose, aerosol release fractions were measured using a mass balance method described by Schwarz and Koch. Besides the release of total aerosol mass special emphasis was directed to the content of free monomeric MDI (4,4'- and 2,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate) in three particle size fractions relevant for inhalation uptake: inhalable, thoracic, and respirable size fraction. Two products were investigated: a two component PUR (polyurethane) spray foam (Elastopor) and a polyurea spray coating (Elastocoat). The mass fraction of the applied products released with the overspray as inhalable aerosol is 6.3 × 10-4 (Elastopor) and 4.0 × 10-4 (Elastocoat). Of the released total overspray aerosol 75 or 80% were in the thoracic size range, and 26 or 47% in the respirable regime for the PUR spray foam or the polyurea spray coating, respectively. At the time point of release the content of monomeric MDI in the aerosol corresponds to the composition of the bulk product. However, analysis of air samples indicates that <1% of the spray foam aerosol mass release fraction is attributed to free monomeric 4,4'- and 2,4'-MDI. For the Spray Coating the monomeric MDI fraction is <0.1%. Higher oligomers of MDI and prereacted oligomeric reaction products make up a few percent of the aerosol. This results in a total fraction of 0.0023% (spray foam) and 0.00015% (spray coating), respectively, of the sprayed monomeric MDI that is transferred into an inhalable aged aerosol. This data demonstrates, that during professional spraying only a small fraction of the total applied mass is released as airborne aerosol. The potential distribution of the theoretically inhalable aerosol in the respiratory tract and a low residual monomer content is described, significantly contributing to a refined safety assessment of the spray applications at the workplaces.

Anomalously high unattached fraction of 220Rn decay products in the atmosphere of monazite storage facility

High levels of the unattached 212Pb fraction of the 220Rn decay products in the atmosphere of the monazite storage facility were found: f1 = 0.3–0.5 at the aerosol concentration of 20 000 cm−3 and 0.1–0.16 at aerosol concentration ∼140 000 cm−3. It is shown that the sampling of aerosols in an atmosphere with a high concentration of thoron result in the local change of the equilibrium between the attached and unattached fractions near the sampling point. As a result, the measured value of the unattached fraction of thoron decay products may differ by several orders of magnitude from the mean value of unattached fraction the in the indoor atmosphere. A local increase of the unattached fraction 212Pb can take place in the worker's breathing zone in the atmosphere with a high concentration of thoron and it should be taken into account in the assessment of the inhalation intake of the thoron decay products for workers.

Risk Model of Air Pollution Exposure (NO2, SO2, TSP and Dust) and Smoking Habits To The Lung Function Of Bus Driver In Palembang City

AbstractNitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), Particulate Matter (PM10) and TSP are the most common and harmful air pollutants to humans. In short period, air pollution exposure at 5 ppm for 10 minutes to humans causes dyspnea, and when the level is increase to 800 ppm could cause 100% mortality in animals. This study was an analytical research, with cross sectional design and risk analysis. One hundred subjects were analyzed in this study. The results showed that non-cancer Hazard Index (HI) for realtime exposure with mean value was NO2: 1.85; SO2: 2.92; TSP: 7.09; and PM10: 11.7 (HI value ≥1). The results of the analysis test for FVC lung capacity to non-cancer risk estimation of NO2, SO2, TSP and PM10 indicated that there was no significant relationship (p &gt; 0,05). Variable of smoking habit is the most dominant variable (OR = 12,542) which affect respiratory disorders. The exposure of NO2, SO2, TSP and PM10 in Palembang City bus drivers is considered risky to non-cancer health subjects, so control is needed. This control could be performed by lowering the level of inhalation intake (I) of the RfC and the first simulation model for exposure could start from the second year to the sixth year.

Occurrence of plastic additives in outdoor air particulate matters from two industrial parks of Tarragona, Spain: Human inhalation intake risk assessment.

Plastic additives include several kinds of chemicals that are added to the polymer matrix to improve the final product quality and prevent deterioration effects. They are used in a large quantity of materials, so their presence in the environment is expected. This study has developed and validated a method based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after pressurised liquid extraction to determine sixteen plastic additives including UV-stabilizers, aromatic and phenolic antioxidants and some of their degradation products in particulate matter (PM10) from outdoor air. Apparent recoveries were above 85% for most of compounds and low detection limits (pg m-3) were achieved. This is the first study to determine these types of contaminant in the PM10 of outdoor air from two locations surrounded by different industries. Various compounds were found in almost all samples; BHT, BHT-Q, 2,4-DTBP, BHT-CHO, UV320, UV328, Irgafos168 and Iragonx1076, with concentrations ranging from < MQL to 2860 pg m-3. Estimated daily intakes (EDIs) via ambient inhalation were calculated for each polymer additive and for different subpopulation groups classified by age. Two possible exposure scenarios (low, based on geometric mean, and high, 95th percentile) were simulated, and 0.51 ng kgbw-1 day-1 was the EDI in the worst case scenario for children.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE CONTRIBUTION OF SHORT-LIVED RADIOIODINES TO THE THYROID RADIATION DOSE FOR THE POPULATION AFTER THE CHERNOBYL AND FUKUSHIMA ACCIDENTS

Purpose. To present results of the comparative analysis of the contribution of short-lived radioiodines to the thyroid radiation dose (TRD) in the population after two severe radiation accidents at nuclear reactors: the Chernobyl accident (1986) and the Fukushima accident (2011). Material and methods. The contribution of short-lived radioiodines to the TRD is expressed in fractions of the TRD from 131I (the main dose forming radionuclide). This contribution takes into account the ratio between doses from inhalation and ingestion intake of 131I, the ratios between dose factors of the expected dose to the thyroid gland in the case of inhalation and ingestion intake of iodine and tellurium isotopes, the ratios between time-integrated concentration of iodine and tellurium isotopes at the ground-level air and in foodstuffs (milk). Results. The typical contribution of short-lived radioiodines to TRD for the population accounts of few percent of dose to the thyroid gland from 131I following the Chernobyl accident as on March 15, 2011, the day of the main fallout after the Fukushima accident - within 15%. For both accidents the leading role among the short-lived radioiodines in terms of dose to the thyroid for the public belongs to 133I and 132I (due to the intake of 132Te and its radioactive decay to 132I in the body). Conclusion. Significant differences in estimates of the typical contribution of short-lived radioiodines to TRD for the population after two considered accidents can be explained by differences in the dominant pathways of the intake of radioiodine by population. The dominant pathway for the vast majority of the population in the contaminated areas following the Chernobyl accident was ingestion intake with locally produced cow’s milk. Following the Fukushima accident the dominant pathway was inhalation intake, because the Japanese authorities were able to quickly prevent the intake of radioiodine with foodstuffs.