For comparison purposes, the effects of active
smoking on the same measures at birth have also been estimated.
Methods: The study relies on women from Eden mother-child cohort recruited in the middle-sized cities of Poitiers and Nancy (France). Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter with diameter <10 mu m (PM10) home address levels during pregnancy were assessed using ADMS-Urban dispersion model. We characterized associations of NO2, PM10 levels and active smoking with placental, birth weights and PFR by distinct linear regression models.
Results: Air pollution levels were higher and had greater variability this website in Nancy (5th-95th centiles, 19.9-27.9 mu g/m(3) for PM10) than in Poitiers (5th-95th centiles, 14.3-17.8 mu g/m(3)). Associations differed by study area: in selleck Nancy (355 births), air pollution levels were associated with decreased placental weight and PFR, while in Poitiers (446 births), opposite or null associations were observed. Cigarette smoking was not associated with placental weight while it was associated with a decrease in birth weight and an increase in PFR.
Conclusion: Results regarding air pollution
estimated effects were not similar in both study areas and should therefore be taken with caution. The placental weight decrease observed with air pollutants in the more polluted area of Nancy is consistent with a recent epidemiological study. In this area, maternal active smoking and PM10 levels tended to have opposite effects on the PFR, suggesting different mechanisms of action of both pollutants on foetal growth. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Australia is free of many diseases, pests and weeds found elsewhere in the world due to its geographical isolation and relatively good health security practices. However, its health security is under increasing pressure due to a number of ecological, climatic, demographic and behavioural changes occurring globally. North Queensland is a high buy VX-770 risk area (a health
security hot spot) for Australia, due in part to its connection to neighbouring countries via the Torres Strait and the Indo-Papuan conduit, its high diversity of wildlife reservoirs and its environmental characteristics. Major outbreaks of exotic diseases, pests and weeds in Australia can cost in excess of $1 billion; however, most expenditure on health security is reactive apart from preventive measures undertaken for a few high profile diseases, pests and weeds. Large gains in health security could therefore be made by spending more on pre-emptive approaches to reduce the risk of outbreaks, invasion/spread and establishment, despite these gains being difficult to quantify. Although biosecurity threats may initially have regional impacts (e.g.