Prefecture Of Heraklion Research Articles

Low Birth Weight and Exposure to Disinfection By-Products in Pregnant Women in Crete (Rhea Study)

ISEE-0517 Background and Objective: Exposure to disinfection by-products (DBPs) during pregnancy has been associated with adverse birth outcomes. We evaluated exposure to DBPs through ingestion, inhalation and dermal absorption among women, in relation to birth weight and other reproductive outcomes. Methods: The mother-child birth cohort in Crete (“Rhea” study) enrolled 1500 pregnant women at the third month of pregnancy (2007–2008) who were residents in the prefecture of Heraklion. Exposures were assessed through 2 general and 2 Food Frequency questionnaires during pregnancy, requesting extensive information on personal water related habits. Tap water samples were collected in the homes of the representative mothers on the basis of detailed water distribution patterns, and were analysed for major DBPs including trihalomethanes (THMs). Logistic and linear regression models were applied. Results: Pregnant women reported a high consumption of bottled water at home (76%), and work (96%). About a third of the women reported water consumption of more than 1.5 L/day. More than half the women (59%) washed dishes by hand whereas only 12% used a dishwasher, nearly all women (94%) took showers rather than baths (1%), and only 2% attended a swimming pool. THM levels were low (<20 micrograms/L) with a relatively high proportion of brominated compounds. After adjusting for educational status, smoking during pregnancy and ethnicity, birth weight was found to be lower among women drinking tap water (beta coefficient = −132 gr, 95%CI −251 to −14) and those drinking bottled water (beta = −96 gr, −202 to 11) as compared to women drinking water from springs. No statistically significant results were found for other reproductive outcomes. An analysis incorporating home specific modelled total THM and specific THM values is ongoing and is taking into account all routes of exposure. Conclusion: These results provide some evidence of differences in birth weight in relation to source of drinking water.

Trace metal distribution in sediments of northern continental shelf of Crete Island, Eastern Mediterranean

The present study investigates the distribution of trace metals (Zn, Hg, Cd, Cu, and Pb), as indicators of pollution, in the surficial offshore shelf sediments along the northern coast of Heraklion Prefecture (Crete, Mediterranean Sea). The concentrations and the spatial distribution of the different trace metals, in relation to the sedimentological characteristics and the water circulation pattern of the entire continental shelf, are associated with human inshore sources of pollutants located along the coastline of the study area. Although the trace metal concentrations measured are higher than the background values, they are not considered to be dangerous to human health, as they are lower than the standard values given by the World Health Organisation, with only a few localised exceptions. Furthermore, results reveal the important role of local hydrodynamism that moves fine-grained material and associated trace metals offshore (seawards to wave breaking zone) and then transports them eastwards by entrapping them in the prevailing offshore shelf-water circulation.

International Workshop on Marine Spatial Planning, UNESCO, Paris, 8–10 November 2006: A summary

Coastal regions are among the most valuable ecosystems due to the socioeconomic and ecological benefits and services they provide. Pressures, leading to multiple adverse effects on coastal habitats, seriously threaten these benefits. Coastal Spatial Planning (CSP) aims to mitigate these pressures in parallel with the E.U. Marine Strategy Framework Directive. A key aspect of ecosystem-based CSP is mapping the spatial distribution of pertinent pressures, and identifying Key Environmental Indicators (KEIs). This objective however, is difficult to achieve in data-poor regions leading to variable sources of uncertainty. Furthermore, a conceptual framework to homogenize spatially explicit data of relevant pressures is lacking. This study proposes a methodology for developing and integrating spatial pressure datasets in a Geographical Information Systems (GIS) environment. This methodology was applied to a case study location in the northern and southern coastal area of Heraklion Prefecture, in Crete (Greece). The pressure datasets, used, were developed from a synthesis of proxy and satellite data, including abrasion, chlorophyll-a, commercial fish catches, invasive species, light pollution, microplastics, noise pollution, ocean acidification and organic load. These nine Potential Environmental Indicators (PEIs) were subjected to Principal Component Analysis (PCA) in order to reduce the number of parameters, and identify their relationships. The shortlisted 7 KEIs were organic load, chlorophyll-a, microplastics, commercial fish catches, and noise pollution, indicating that this methodology can be of management relevance in the initial steps of CSP implementation, especially in data poor areas. The proposed spatial integration of disparate pressure datasets as part of the flowchart presented constitutes a compositional approach to the spatial illustration of pressures in a coastal area. The patterns of KEI connectivity and disturbance highlighted herein through statistical analysis, could provide a feasible, economic and less biased procedure leading to effective marine resource management, also allowing for a regional and European implementation.

Evaluating water resources availability and wastewater reuse importance in the water resources management of small Mediterranean municipal districts

Two low-cost and user-friendly models were developed in an effort to allow small Mediterranean municipalities to evaluate the water resources availability and wastewater reuse importance in their municipal districts. The Water Resources Balance Model (WRBM) ranks each municipal district in four categories according to an innovating scoring methodology based on the adequacy of the existing water resources for potable and irrigation needs. The Wastewater Reuse Importance Model (WRIM) was then used to evaluate the importance of wastewater reuse in water resources balance based on a scoring procedure in which the amount of reusable wastewater was compared with various scenarios of irrigation shortages and needs. The models were applied to 82 municipal districts from the prefecture of Heraklion in the island of Crete. WRBM evaluated eight districts as water scarce while 72% of the districts are water adequate. WRIM evaluated that in 67% of the districts, wastewater reuse is incapable of playing any role of any importance since either water is adequate or the shortage is so great and/or the produced wastewater volume is insignificant by comparison. In total, in only 11 of the districts could wastewater reuse be considered as an important alternative water resource.

An epidemiological study of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding in Crete, Greece.

Information about the epidemiology of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) in southern Europe is very limited and especially in Greece non-existent. Our study sought to determine the current epidemiology of acute UGIB (incidence, mortality and case fatality) in the prefecture of Heraklion-Crete. From February 1998 to February 1999, we prospectively obtained data on all patients with acute UGIB in the prefecture of Heraklion-Crete. All patients who were permanent residents of the prefecture of Heraklion, aged 16 years and over with acute UGIB were included in the study. During this period, 353 cases of acute UGIB were included in the study. The overall incidence of acute UGIB is 160/100,000 adults per year with a male-to-female ratio of 1.7 and a mean age 66.2 +/- 17.1 years. The incidence rises from 30 in those aged under 30 years to 609 in those aged over 75 years. The overall population mortality was 9/100,000 adults per year. Overall case fatality during hospitalization was 5.6%. All deaths occurred in patients older than 60 years. One or more comorbid illnesses were noted in 61% of cases. Recent intake of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was reported in 49% of the cases. The most common recorded diagnoses were erosive disease in 108 (30.5%) patients, duodenal ulcer in 97 (27.4%) and gastric ulcer in 75 (21.2%). Rebleeding occurred in 41 patients (12%). Twelve patients (3.3%) had surgery during hospitalization. The overall annual incidence of acute UGIB in the prefecture of Heraklion-Crete is one of the highest reported in Europe and increases appreciably with age. Both population mortality and case fatality are slightly lower compared to those reported in most previous studies.

Granulomatous appendicitis

Objective: The aims of our study were: to provide an estimate of the incidence of epithelioid granulomas of the appendix in Greece; to investigate the relationship between granulomatous appendicitis and Crohn's disease, and to estimate long-term prognosis. Methods: All pathology reports of patients who underwent appendicectomy from 1986–1991 in the prefecture of Heraklion were reviewed. In the cases with epithelioid granulomas of the appendix, the clinical, histological and laboratory features, as well as the clinical course, were recorded. Results: Four cases with epithelioid granulomas of the appendix, with no known cause, were identified. Postoperative investigation of the alimentary tract in two of the patients was negative. Follow-up of the four patients for 1.5–5 years (median 3.0 years) showed that all had been free of gastrointestinal symptoms since the operation. Conclusion: Patients with epithelioid granulomas of the appendix have an excellent long-term prognosis and in most cases, granulomatous appendicitis seems to be unrelated to Crohn's disease.