SSNTD dosimeters were placed in every school, while electrets and BTSA1 cell line TLD have been employed in a pilot study performed in a selected sample of 56 schools in order to achieve preliminary information.
Moreover the study foresaw a quality control on electret dosimeters’ perfomances
in terms of homogeneity and reliability. The results of this check have been taken into account in the data analysis. In this paper final results concerning the pilot study are reported.
The indoor radon levels measured in the schools ranged from 65 Bq/m(3) to 1808 Bq/m(3), and only six schools (corresponding to 13% of the sample) showed radon annual average above 500 Bq/m(3), Italian action level for workplaces. For the average absorbed dose rate in air due to gamma radiation, the recorded values ranged between 47 and 83 nGy/h with an average value of 61 nGy/h. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Objectives: We sought to determine the impact of maternal weight gain on fetal growth RG-7388 in gestational diabetes (GDM) in relation to treatment modality, body mass index (BMI) and glycemic control. Study design: Two thousand four hundred fifty-four GDMs were evaluated. Obesity was defined
as BMI >29; good glycemic control <= 100 mg/dl; maternal age < and >30 years; parity 1; large for gestational age (LGA) >90th percentile Semaxanib purchase and small for gestational age (SGA) <10th percentile. Results: SGA rates were similar in all groups. Obese/overweight diet-treated women in glycemic control showed a four-fold higher rate of LGA compared to insulin-treated women. A 36-lb weight gain in insulin-treated patients had a six-fold higher risk. In poor glycemic control, LGA rates were
higher in all BMI/weight gain categories. Logistic regressions for LGA/SGA revealed that level of glycemia, weight gain, parity, obesity and treatment (for LGA only) were significant. Conclusion: Different thresholds used for different maternal BMI categories in addition to the achievement of glycemic control and pharmacological therapy will enhance pregnancy outcome.”
“The exposure of citizens to elevated air pollution concentrations is one of the major factors leading to the deterioration of the quality of life and possibly to health problems in urban areas. The concentration of air pollutants depends largely on pollutant emission levels. If the statistical probability distribution function of the concentration of an air pollutant is known, it is possible to estimate how many times this concentration exceeds the air quality standards, or estimate changes in the emission levels in an area. It can be also used to estimate the long term exposure of population to certain pollutants.