Improve X-ray images using quality assurance tests

In this research, entrance surface doses of patients which are resulted from a classical radiograph in most widespread tests (Chest, skull, abdomen, limbs, …) have been measured with selected instruments in (Specialized surgeries hospital) and one of the private clinic in Baghdad, the instruments are of various origins and different make date. A group of patients (10 patients) for each test and according the average of the resulted doses. Comparison of the patient’s doses, in this research, has been close with the reliable International standards and it has been found that radiological doses are bigger than reference doses ranging (132–1.79) in most of the appliance and the range doses to one whenever the instrument is new and the radiographer has good experience, this increase relates to several functions discussed in the research in detail For the importance of the quality assurance of x-ray instruments, three tests have been performed by three of the instruments only, and these tests are : Beam Alignment test : The Beam Alignment was measured and the x-ray radiograph was found symmetrical round the two axes of the instruments (A, B) but it is about 3 ° away from the vertical axis of the instrument (C). Optical and Radiation Field Congruence Test: The light field coincides with the radiative field in a and b and their mismatch in c. Focal Spot Size Test: The radiation focus area was measured by the star tool and what appeared is that the focus of the x-ray instrument (C) is smaller than the international standards on the contrary of the focus area of the x-ray instrument (E) which is identical with the international standards. From these results reached is that the instruments (A, B) have passed quality assurance tests and they are suitable for work in the present, but the instrument (C) has not passed most of the quality assurance tests, so this instrument should not be used for medical tests This in research is considered the first one for these instruments to evaluate their doses or measure a quality assurance.

Baseline Health Risk Assessment of Trace Metals in Bivalve Shellfish From Commercial Growing Areas in the Estuaries of Ashtamudi and Vembanad (Kerala, India)

Trace metal concentrations were monitored in the yellow clam (Paphia malabarica), green mussel (Perna viridis) and edible oyster (Crassostrea madrasensis) from growing areas in the Ashtamudi and Vembanad estuaries, Kerala. Ranges of mean annual concentrations (mg/kg) were Ni (0.46–0.65); Co (2.87–3.49); Fe (80.0–119.4); Mn (3.88–9.38); Zn (40.8–76.2); Pb (1.28–2.00); Cu (1.59–4.38). In Ashtamudi, clams had higher mean concentrations of Ni, Co, Fe, Mn and Pb than oysters. Mean concentrations of Ni, Pb (in all species), Zn (in clams and mussels) and Cu (in mussels) did not exceed maximum permissible limits mandated by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. Mean Mn concentrations exceeded the World Health Organization guideline in the three species while mean Fe concentrations in clams and oysters did not exceed the guideline. Target hazard quotients were generally ≤ 1, except for a few Pb results in clams and mussels. Although results suggest no health risk to consumers for the reference doses, daily intakes and elements considered, regular monitoring of trace metals is recommended to maintain consumer protection given increasing anthropogenic and climatic pressures on the shellfish growing areas.

Organophosphate Flame Retardants in Car Dust from Thailand and Implications for Human Exposure

Organophosphorus flame retardants (PFRs) are a group of compounds frequently detected in indoor dust that pose high health risks to exposure subjects. The present study reports on the investigation of the levels and profiles of seven target PFRs in car dust samples from Thailand. The samples were collected from the discarded air conditioning (AC) filter of 14 private cars (called AC dust samples) and from the bag filter installed in vacuum cleaners of 10 car washing services (called settled dust samples) in 2019. The concentrations of 7PFRs in AC dust samples were approximately 3,800-91,000 ng/g, whereas those from settled dust samples were about 11,000 to 15,000 ng/g. Tris (2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBEP) was found to be the most prominent of PFRs detected in both types of car dust with the highest concentration of 39,000 ng/g for AC filter dust and 10,000 ng/g for settled dust. The main PFR contributors in both dust types were TBEP (80%, 75%), followed by Tris (2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (TEHP) (9%, 5%) and tris(1-chloro-2-propyl)phosphate (TCPP) (7%, 4%), respectively. Tris(2-chloroethyl)phosphate (TCEP) and tri cresyl phosphate (TCP) were not detected in both types of car dust and tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCPP) was found only in settled dust samples. According to the results of exposure assessment to PFRs in car dust, the human exposures via ingestion for adults and toddlers ranged from 1.69×10-2 to 2.67 and 10.6 to 2,360 ng/kg/day. The human exposures via inhalation for adults and toddlers ranged from 3.27×10-4 to 5.17x10-2 and 2.58×10-1 to 40.9 ng/kg/day. The highest exposure among PFRs corresponded to TBEP for both adults and toddlers and the risk through ingestion was higher than inhalation intake. Toddlers were more exposed to PFR contaminants in comparison to adults. When comparing the estimated average daily intake (ADI) values with the reference doses (RfDs) for PFRs, it was found that exposure to PFRs in car cabins via inhalation and dust ingestion is unlikely to have adverse human health effects.

Contamination of Water, Sediment and Fish With Residues of Pesticides Used in Cotton Production in Northern Benin

In Northern Benin, insecticides are used for cotton production. These insecticides can be easily transferred to water ponds close to cotton fields. To monitor insecticides levels in water, sediments and fish samples from water ponds, a GC-MS analytical method was developed to detect residues of endosulfan, DDT and its parent compounds, isomers of HCH, pyrethroids and chlorpyrifos. In addition, the influence of storage conditions of water sample on pesticides determination performance has been studied. The limits of quantification were between 0.16 and 0.32 µg/L in water, 0.5 and 1 μg/kg in sediment and 1 and 2 μg/kg in fish. Twenty samples of water, twenty of sediments and forty of fish were taken in four different water reservoirs at five different times. Alpha-endosulfan, lambda-cyhalothrin and permethrin were the identified in sediment while p,p’-DDE, α- and β-HCH, chlorpyrifos, lambda-cyhalothrin and permethrin were detected in fish. Only organochlorines were determined in water because of the lack of recovery of pyrethroids from water stored in glass. Concentrations of insecticide residues in sediment for all water ponds ranged from non-detected to 101 µg/kg and from non-detected to 36 µg/kg in fish. Preliminary risk assessment for consumers of the North of Benin showed that the Estimated Daily Intakes were lower than the Acceptable Daily Intake sand Acute Reference Doses for all consumers. However, as one fish can be contaminated by 5 pesticide residues at the same time, it is not possible to exclude a risk for the consumer due to his exposure to mixtures of pesticides.

Development of image quality related reference doses called acceptable quality doses (AQD) in paediatric CT exams in Qatar

Objectives To describe first experience of integrating assessment of image quality in paediatric X-ray computed tomography (CT) with analysis of the radiation dose indices to develop reference doses called acceptable quality dose (AQD). Methods Image quality was scored by the radiologists at a tertiary care hospital in Qatar on a scale of 0 to 4 using the recently published scoring criteria. The patients undergoing head, chest and abdomen CT were divided in different weight groups as follows: < 5 kg, 5–< 15 kg, 15–< 30 kg, 30–< 50 kg, 50–< 80 kg and > 80 kg. The images that were clinically acceptable (score of 3) were included for assessment of median values of CTDIvol and DLP to obtain AQDs in different weight groups. Results After initial training in image quality scoring of CT images of 49 patients by three radiologists, the study on 715 patients indicated 665 studies (93%) were clinically acceptable as per scoring criteria. The median CTDIvol values for the above weight groups were 16, 20, 22, 22, 27 and 27 mGy and the median DLP values for these weight groups were 271, 377, 463, 486, 568 and 570 mGy cm, respectively, for head CT. Similar values are presented for chest and abdomen CTs. Conclusions The first ever experience of starting with image quality assessment and integrating it with analysis of dose indices to obtain AQD values shall provide a workable model for others and values for comparison within the facility and in other facilities leading to optimisation. Key Points • The first study to integrate image quality assessment with analysis of patient dose indices shows feasibility for routine practice in other centres. • The values of acceptable quality dose (AQD) were provided for head, chest and abdomen CT of children divided into weight groups rather than age. They shall act as reference values for future studies. • Verification of our findings on proportional increase in exposure parameters (CTDIvol and DLP) with weight by other investigators shall be helpful.

Validation of a MS Based Proteomics Method for Milk and Egg Quantification in Cookies at the Lowest VITAL Levels: An Alternative to the Use of Precautionary Labeling

The prevalence of food allergy has increased over the last decades and consequently the food labeling policies have improved over the time in different countries to regulate allergen presence in foods. In particular, Reg 1169 in EU mandates the labelling of 14 allergens whenever intentionally added to foods, but the inadvertent contamination by allergens still remains an uncovered topic. In order to warn consumers on the risk of cross-contamination occurring in certain categories of foods, a precautionary allergen labelling system has been put in place by food industries on a voluntary basis. In order to reduce the overuse of precautionary allergen labelling (PAL), reference doses and action limits have been proposed by the Voluntary Incidental Trace Allergen Labelling VITAL project representing a guide in this jeopardizing scenario. Development of sensitive and reliable mass spectrometry methods are therefore of paramount importance in this regard to check the contamination levels in foods. In this paper we describe the development of a time-managed multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) method based on a triple quadrupole platform for milk and egg quantification in processed food. The method was in house validated and allowed to achieve levels of proteins lower than 0.2 mg of total milk and egg proteins, respectively, in cookies, challenging the doses recommended by VITAL. The method was finally applied to cookies labeled as milk and egg-free. This method could represent, in perspective, a promising tool to be implemented along the food chain to detect even tiny amounts of allergens contaminating food commodities.

Organochlorine Pesticide Residue Levels in Parts of Watermelon Grown in the Ada-West District of Greater Accra Region, Ghana and Its Related Human Health Risks

The study involved the use of soxhlet apparatus and CP-3800 Gas Chromatograph equipped with a 63Ni electron capture detector to investigate the presence and levels of organochlorine pesticide (OCP) residues in sampled parts of watermelon. The study revealed the presence of fifteen OCPs residues in the peel, pulp and seeds of watermelon from the selected communities in the Ada-West District of the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Most of the OCP residues investigated were below the limit of detection of 0.01 µg/kg. Detectable OCP residues whose concentrations were above detection limit were dieldrin and p, p’-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethene (p,p'–DDE). The seeds of watermelon from Koluedor recorded the highest level of 2.10 µg/kg of p’p-DDE while the lowest level of 0.20 µg/kg of dieldrin and p’p-DDE were recorded in the peel of watermelon from Sege. The mean levels of the detected pesticide residues in peel, pulp and seeds of watermelon were also below maximum residue limits (MRLs) set by European Union (EU). Estimated daily intake (EDI) of organochlorine pesticide residues as a result of consumption of the studied watermelon for children ranged from 0.001 µg/kg to 0.006 µg/kg and those for adults were from 0.0005 µg/kg to 0.003 µg/kg. EDIs values obtained were however, far below reference doses (RFDs) recommended by United State Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).

Essential elements and standards for their contents in drinking water

Certain essential and conditionally essential natural elements (selenium, chromium, iodine, molybdenum, cobalt, vanadium, fluorine, lithium, silicon, boron, and bromine) are standardized in terms of their contents in drinking water as per sanitary-toxicological parameters of adverse health effects. Our research goal was to determine a contribution made by drinking water into supplying a human body with essential natural elements as well as to substantiate the necessity to update standards regarding these substances. We applied calculation models for dose equivalents of essential elements MPC (maximum permissible concentration), MPC calculations for these substances basing on a necessary 20 % contribution made by drinking water into reference doses, and calculation of non-carcinogenic health risks due to essential elements occurrence in specific drinking water sources with these elements being distributed into different groups as per similar effects produced on certain organs and systems in a body. We took existing drinking water sources containing 6 essential elements with similar effects as an example and applied a procedure for assessing non-carcinogenic health risks. Acting nickel and selenium MPC do not supply a body with an optimal daily intake whereas their determined MPC are not only harmless but also conform to the minimum necessary intake dose. At the same time neither acting lithium MPC nor its calculated one taking into account risk assessment based on internationally accepted reference doses doesn’t provide the minimum necessary daily intake into a human body. When boron and vanadium are contained in drinking water in a concentration close to their MPC, then their 20 % contribution into the reference dose is exceeded (71.4 % and 164.7 % accordingly). Introduction of these essential elements with food can become a factor that determines non-carcinogenic risk level.