Chlorinated paraffins in hinges of kitchen appliances

Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) are anthropogenic pollutants of growing environmental concern. These highly complex mixtures of thousands of homologs and congeners are usually applied as additives in lubricants or as flame retardants and plasticizers in polymers and paints. Recent studies indicated the presence of high amounts of CPs in the kitchen environment whose sources could not be unequivocally identified. One option was the use of CPs as or in lubricants of hinges. To test this hypothesis, we performed wipe tests on lubricants on 29 hinges of different types of kitchen appliances (refrigerators, baking ovens, dishwashers, freezers, microwave oven, pasta machine, food processor, steam cooker) and analyzed them for short-chain CPs (SCCPs) and medium-chain CPs (MCCPs). CPs were detected in 21 samples (72%). Per wipe, SCCP concentrations ranged between 0.02 and 10 µg (median 0.23 µg), while MCCPs ranged from 0.09 to 750 µg (median 1.0 µg). Highest MCCP amounts (380 and 750 µg per wipe, respectively) were determined in new and unused appliances. A medium correlation between SCCP content and appliance age was observed, but no additional statistic correlation between SCCP/MCCP amount and appliance type or manufacturer could be observed. CPs released from hinges by volatilization, abrasion, and cleaning processes could enter the environment and come in contact with persons living in the corresponding households.

Surface contamination of the outer and blister packages of oral anticancer drugs: A multicenter study

Introduction All guidelines necessitate wearing personal protective equipment during dispensing of oral anticancer drugs. This study aims to measure the degree of contamination on the press-through-package strips of oral anticancer drugs in Japan. Method Surface contamination of the external packaging of anticancer drugs was examined by performing wipe tests at four hospitals and two community pharmacies. The following commercially available drugs were examined: Xeloda®, TS-1®, and methotrexate tablets and SA-1® and Rheumatrex® capsules. Results The wipe tests’ results revealed that the contamination levels of Xeloda® and TS-1® tablets and SA-1® capsules were within their detection limits. In some facilities, the contamination levels on the press-through-package strips of Rheumatrex® capsules were 3.27 × 10−1, which is close to its detection limit. However, across all facilities, the contamination level of methotrexate tablets was above its detection limit. Conclusion The results of this study suggested that adherence to oral anticancer drugs may not occur during manufacture or transportation. However, it may be due to the presence of pollutants in the facilities. Prevention of pollution in facilities might eliminate the need to wear personal protective equipment during dispensing of oral anticancer drugs.

Determination of Glucocorticoids in UPLC-MS in Environmental Samples from an Occupational Setting

Occupational exposures to glucocorticoids are still a neglected issue in some work environments, including pharmaceutical plants. We developed an analytical method to quantify simultaneously 21 glucocorticoids using UPLC coupled with mass spectrometry to provide a basis to carry out environmental monitoring. Samples were taken from air, hand-washing tests, pad-tests and wipe-tests. This paper reports the contents of the analytical methodology, along with the results of this extensive environmental and personal monitoring of glucocorticoids. The method in UPLC-MS turned out to be suitable and effective for the aim of the study. Wipe-test and pad-test desorption was carried out using 50 mL syringes, a simple technique that saves time without adversely affecting analyte recovery. Results showed a widespread environmental pollution due to glucocorticoids. This is of particular concern. Evaluation of the dose absorbed by each worker and identification of a biomarker for occupational exposure will contribute to assessment and prevention of occupational exposure.

Determination of heavy metals in aerosol fractions of different particle sizes from the healing gallery of Badgastein (Austria)

SummaryIn the Badgastein healing gallery aerosol fractions were collected with an 8-stage cascade impactor device. The Fe, Cr, Zn, Co and Sc concentrations were measured by INAA. The values found for Fe, Cr and Co and especially their increase with particle size in the coarse aerosol mode indicated their origin by mechanical grinding of the gallery train tracks or old metal wall brackets. Metal ratios derived from irradiation of a gallery rock sample as well as from wipe tests from the tracks and floor supported these findings. Fe

Thermal Spraying of High Performance Thermoplastics

Thermally sprayed coatings of high performance thermoplastics are of interest espacially for the chemical industry for anti-corrosion applications at elevated temperatures. In this paper coatings of polyetherether-keton (PEEK) and polyphenylen-sulphide (PPS) have been produced by simple flamespraying. They have been investigated by optical metallography, FT-IR analysis and DSC-analysis. Among the coating properties also the "in-flight" particles have been studied by wipe-tests and FT-IR analysis in order to assess possible decomposition effects during spraying.