Corrigendum to:

AbstractNitrogen dioxide (NO2) is linked to poor air quality and severe human health impacts, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and being responsible annually for approximately 23,500 premature deaths in the UK. Automated air quality monitoring stations continuously record pollutants in urban environments but are restricted in number (need for electricity, maintenance and trained operators), only record air quality proximal to their location and cannot document variability of airborne pollutants at finer spatial scales. As an alternative, passive sampling devices such as Palmes-type diffusion tubes can be used to assess the spatial variability of air quality in greater detail, due to their simplicity (e.g. small, light material, no electricity required) and suitability for long-term studies (e.g. deployable in large numbers, useful for screening studies). Accordingly, a one passive diffusion tube sampling approach has been adapted to investigate spatial and temporal variability of NO2 concentrations across the City of Manchester (UK). Spatial and temporal detail was obtained by sampling 45 locations over a 12-month period (361 days, to include seasonal variability), resulting in 1080 individual NO2 measurements. Elevated NO2 concentrations, exceeding the EU/UK limit value of 40 µg m−3, were recorded throughout the study period (N = 278; 26% of individual measurements), particularly during colder months and across a wide area including residential locations. Of 45 sampling locations, 24% (N = 11) showed annual average NO2 above the EU/UK limit value, whereas 16% (N = 7) showed elevated NO2 (> 40 µg m−3) for at least 6 months of deployment. Highest NO2 was recorded in proximity of highly trafficked major roads, with urban factors such as surrounding building heights also influencing NO2 dispersion and distribution. This study demonstrates the importance of high spatial coverage to monitor atmospheric NO2 concentrations across urban environments, to aid identification of areas of human health concern, especially in areas that are not covered by automated monitoring stations. This simple, reasonably cheap, quick and easy method, using a single-NOx diffusion tube approach, can aid identification of NO2 hotspots and provides fine spatial detail of deteriorated air quality. Such an approach can be easily transferred to comparable urban environments to provide an initial screening tool for air quality and air pollution, particularly where local automated air quality monitoring stations are limited. Additionally, such an approach can support air quality assessment studies, e.g. lichen or moss biomonitoring studies.

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Sensitive Spectrophotometric Determination of Nitrite in Human Saliva and Rain Water and of Nitrogen Dioxide in the Atmosphere

Journal of AOAC International ◽

10.1093/jaoac/84.1.53 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 84 (1) ◽

pp. 53-58 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Murad I H Helaleh ◽

Takashi Korenaga

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Dioxide ◽

Azo Dye ◽

Reference Method ◽

Ph Control ◽

Human Saliva ◽

Molar Absorptivity ◽

Rain Water ◽

Relative Standard ◽

Time Required

Abstract A new simple, sensitive, and selective spectrophotometric method was developed for the determination of nitrite. The method is based on the reaction of nitrite with sulfathiazole in acidic medium to form a diazonium cation, which is subsequently coupled with N-(1-naphthyl)ethylenediamine dihydrochloride to form a highly stable, violet azo dye. The reaction product has an absorption maximum at 546 nm and obeys Beer's law over a nitrite range of 0.054–0.816 μg/mL. The molar absorptivity of the colored compound is 4.61 × 104 L/(mol·cm). The detection limit is 12.1 μg/L. The relative standard deviation is 0.85% for 5 determinations of nitrite at 0.27 μg/mL. The reproducibility and validity of the proposed method are discussed in the present paper. The simplicity of the method is demonstrated by the high stability of the azo-dye product as well as the short time required for its complete formation in a reaction at room temperature without pH control or extra extraction. The sensitivity of the method is shown by the successful determination of nitrite in human saliva and rain water, and of nitrogen dioxide in the atmosphere. The results compare favorably with those obtained by the reference method. The selectivity of the method is indicated by its freedom from most interferences, even at high concentrations of nitrate (500 μg/mL).

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Inequalities in Exposure to Nitrogen Dioxide in Parks and Playgrounds in Greater London

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16173194 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (17) ◽

pp. 3194 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Charlotte E. Sheridan ◽

Charlotte J. Roscoe ◽

John Gulliver ◽

Laure de Preux ◽

Daniela Fecht

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Dioxide ◽

Open Space ◽

Public Parks ◽

Open Spaces ◽

Annual Average ◽

Emissions Inventory ◽

Ordnance Survey ◽

Adverse Health Outcomes ◽

Eu Directive ◽

The Eu

Elevated levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) have been associated with adverse health outcomes in children, including reduced lung function and increased rates of asthma. Many parts of London continue to exceed the annual average NO2 concentration of 40 µg/m3 set by the EU directive. Using high-resolution maps of annual average NO2 for 2016 from the London Atmospheric Emissions Inventory and detailed maps of open spaces from Britain’s national mapping agency, Ordnance Survey, we estimated average NO2 concentrations for every open space in Greater London and analysed geospatial patterns comparing Inner verses Outer London and the 32 London Boroughs. Across Greater London, 24% of play spaces, 67% of private parks and 27% of public parks had average levels of NO2 that exceeded the EU limit for NO2. Rates of exceedance were higher in Inner London; open spaces in the City of London had the highest average NO2 values among all the London Boroughs. The closest play space for more than 250,000 children (14% of children) under 16 years old in Greater London had NO2 concentrations above the recommended levels. Of these children, 66% (~165,000 children) lived in the most deprived areas of London, as measured by the Index of Multiple Deprivations, where average NO2 concentrations in play spaces were on average 6 µg/m3 higher than for play spaces in the least deprived quintile. More action is needed to reduce NO2 in open spaces to safe levels through pollution reduction and mitigation efforts, as currently, open spaces in Greater London, including play spaces, parks and gardens, still have dangerously high levels of NO2, according to the most recent NO2 map.

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Equivalency testing of TTC Tergitol 7 agar (ISO 9308-1:2000) with five culture media for the detection of E. coli in water samples in Greece

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.2010.781 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 61 (1) ◽

pp. 67-76 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

A. Mavridou ◽

E. Smeti ◽

G. Mandilara ◽

P. Boufa ◽

M. Vagiona-Arvanitidou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Samples ◽

Culture Media ◽

Reference Method ◽

Relative Difference ◽

Alternative Methods ◽

Lauryl Sulfate ◽

Counting Problems ◽

E Coli ◽

Better Than ◽

The Eu

In this study ten laboratories in Greece compared the performance of reference method TTC Tergitol 7 Agar (with the additional test of β-glucuronidase production) with five alternative methods, to detect E. coli in water, in line with European Water Directive recommendations. The samples were prepared by spiking drinking water with sewage effluent following a standard protocol. Chlorinated and non-chlorinated samples were used. The statistical analysis was based on the mean relative difference of confirmed counts and was performed in line with ISO 17994. The results showed that in total, three of the alternative methods (Chromocult Coliform agar, Membrane Lauryl Sulfate agar and Trypton Bilex-glucuronidase medium) were not different from TTC Tergitol 7 agar (TTC Tergitol 7 agar vs Chromocult Coliform agar, 294 samples, mean RD% 5.55; vs MLSA, 302 samples, mean RD% 1; vs TBX, 297 samples, mean RD% −2.78). The other two alternative methods (Membrane Faecal coliform medium and Colilert 18/ Quantitray) gave significantly higher counts than TTC Tergitol 7 agar (TTC Tergitol 7 agar vs MFc, 303 samples, mean RD% 8.81; vs Colilert-18/Quantitray, 76 samples, mean RD% 18.91). In other words, the alternative methods generated performance that was as reliable as, or even better than, the reference method. This study will help laboratories in Greece overcome culture and counting problems deriving from the EU reference method for E. coli counts in water samples.

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First Proficiency Testing To Evaluate the Ability of European Union National Reference Laboratories To Detect Staphylococcal Enterotoxins in Milk Products

Journal of AOAC International ◽

10.1093/jaoac/86.2.332 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 86 (2) ◽

pp. 332-339 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Jacques-Antoine Hennekinne ◽

Martine Gohier ◽

Tiphaine Maire ◽

Christiane Lapeyre ◽

Bertrand Lombard ◽

...

Keyword(s):

European Union ◽

Proficiency Testing ◽

Reference Method ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Milk Products ◽

Staphylococcal Enterotoxins ◽

National Reference ◽

Freeze Dried ◽

Uninoculated Control ◽

The Eu

Abstract The European Commission has designed a network of European Union-National Reference Laboratories (EU-NRLs), coordinated by a Community Reference Laboratory (CRL), for control of hygiene of milk and milk products (Council Directive 92/46/ECC). As a common contaminant of milk and milk products such as cheese, staphylococcal enterotoxins are often involved in human outbreaks and should be monitored regularly. The main tasks of the EU-CRLs were to select and transfer to the EU-NRLs a reference method for detection of enterotoxins, and to set up proficiency testing to evaluate the competency of the European laboratory network. The first interlaboratory exercise was performed on samples of freeze-dried cheese inoculated with 2 levels of staphylococcal enterotoxins (0.1 and 0.25 ng/g) and on an uninoculated control. These levels were chosen considering the EU regulation for staphylococcal enterotoxins in milk and milk products and the limit of detection of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test recommended in the reference method. The trial was conducted according to the recommendations of ISO Guide 43. Results produced by laboratories were compiled and compared through statistical analysis. Except for data from 2 laboratories for the uninoculated control and cheese inoculated at 0.1 ng/g, all laboratories produced satisfactory results, showing the ability of the EU-NRL network to monitor the enterotoxin contaminant.

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Five years of nitrogen dioxide measurement with diffusion tube samplers at over 1000 sites in the UK

Atmospheric Environment ◽

10.1016/s1352-2310(00)00171-0 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 35 (2) ◽

pp. 281-287 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

Ken Stevenson ◽

Tony Bush ◽

Diane Mooney

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Dioxide ◽

The Uk ◽

Diffusion Tube

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Cyclic imines, as emerging marine toxins: Chemical properties, distribution, toxicological aspects and detection methods

Journal of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society ◽

10.12681/jhvms.14856 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 62 (3) ◽

pp. 240 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

M. CHATZIANASTASIOU (Μ. ΧΑΤΖΗΑΝΑΣΤΑΣΙΟΥ) ◽

M. KATIKOU (Μ. ΚΑΤΙΚΟΥ) ◽

Th. ZACHARAKI (Θ. ΖΑΧΑΡΑΚΗ) ◽

A. PAPAZACHARIOU (Α. ΠΑΠΑΖΑΧΑΡΙΟΥ) ◽

A. McKEVITT

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Acute Toxicity ◽

Intraperitoneal Injection ◽

Algal Blooms ◽

Reference Method ◽

Detection Methods ◽

Laboratory Animals ◽

Bivalve Molluscs ◽

Marine Toxins ◽

The Eu

Shellfish and, specifically, bivalve molluscs are a food commodity of great nterest for both commercial and public health reasons. They consume microalgae from surrounding waters, which are generally beneficial for aquaculture, but they comprise certain toxin-producing species. These species produce marine toxins which, via the filter-feeding mechanism of bivalve molluscs, accumulate in their tissues. This accumulation is more intense andmore dangerous for public health during the so-called periods of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) when the microalgal population grows. According to their chemical structure, marine toxins are classified into 8 groups, one of which is the cyclic imines. These lipophilic toxins were accidentally discovered during routine bioassays for the detection of other lipophilic marine toxins due to the induction of neurological symptoms and acute death in mice. They include the following subgroups: Spirolides (SPX), gymnodimines (GYM), pinnatoxins (PnTX), pteriatoxins (PtTX), prorocentrolides and spiro-prorocentrimines. The European Union (EU) is more concerned about the first three subgroups, because, in contrast with the latter three, they have already been detected in Europe or there is strong evidence supporting their presence. Spirolides are produced by the dmof\a.ge\\ate Alexandrìum ostenfeldii/peruvianum, gymnodimines by the dinoflagellate Karenia selliformis and pinnatoxins by a peridinoid dinoflagellate recently described in the new genus Vulcanodinium spp.. Although there is insufficient information regarding the geographical distribution of cyclic imines, the fact that they have been detected on multiple occasions in European waters, in combination with their aforementioned acute toxicity in mice after intraperitoneal injection, has established them, at least within the EU, as a topic of profound scientific research. In spite of their acute toxicity in mice, no incident of human intoxication has been attributed to cyclic imines. Presently, the EU has neither set any Maximum Permissible Limits for the concentration of cyclic imines in shellfish nor appointed any reference method for their detection and quantification. Currently, the methods applied are biological, biochemical and chemical. The biological method is a bioassay, which is conducted via the intraperitoneal injection of mice with an extract containing the compound under examination and it detects total toxicity. This properly is essential for the detection of unknown toxins, but the use of laboratory animals raises serious ethical concerns and animal welfare issues. The biochemical method is based on competition between cyclic imines and a fluorescently labelled compound for binding to receptors of the electric ray Torpedo marmorata. Finally, in respect of chemical methods, liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry detection (LC-MS/MS) is the most significant method because it is fast, of high repeatability and specificity.

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Prediction of lean meat proportion based on ultrasonic backfat thickness measurements of live pigs

Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s1357729800055089 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 71 (2) ◽

pp. 253-257 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

B. Hulsegge ◽

G. S. M. Merkus ◽

P. Walstra

Keyword(s):

Reference Method ◽

Backfat Thickness ◽

Multiple Site ◽

Lean Meat ◽

The Third ◽

The One ◽

Thickness Measurements ◽

Sufficient Precision ◽

The Eu

AbstractIn The Netherlands a system has been developed for classification of live pigs based on lean meat proportion. Ultrasonic backfat thickness measurements were taken on 377 live pigs to assess the ability of the developed system for estimation of the lean meat proportion. The measurements were made at the sites mid point (half the distance from the occipital bone to the base of the tail), mid point –2·5 cm and mid point +2·5 cm, 5 cm off the dorsal mid line.On the same day, these pigs were slaughtered and the lean meat proportions of the carcasses were estimated using the Hennessy Grading Probe (HGP). HGP measurements were taken between the third and fourth from last rib, 6 cm off the dorsal mid line on carcasses (3/4 LR). The day after slaughter, 88 left carcass sides were randomly chosen to be dissected according to a simplified European Union (EU) reference method.From the fat thicknesses measured, the one at the site mid point on live pigs was the most accurate predictor for the EU lean meat proportion. The use of multiple site measurements, compared with a single site measurement, significantly reduced the residual standard deviation for the estimation of lean meat proportion.The site mid point on live pigs differed in longitudinal as well as in dorsal-ventral direction from 3/4 LR on carcasses.The results of this study suggest that multiple backfat thickness measurements on live pigs can be used for prediction of lean meat proportion with sufficient precision for practical use. Therefore, the developed system can serve as a classification system for live pigs.

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