Asthma symptoms, lung function, and markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in children exposed to oil refinery pollution.

Objectives: Little is known about the effects of exposure to petroleum refinery emissions on respiratory health in children. We evaluated lung function and markers of inflammation and oxidative stress in children and adolescents with and without asthma or wheezing symptoms living in a petrochemical polluted area (Sarroch, Sardinia) versus a reference area (Burcei).

Methods: Parents of 275/300 6- to 14-year-old children living in Sarroch and parents of 214/323 children living in Burcei answered a questionnaire on respiratory symptoms and risk factors.

Different Pathways in the Base-Promoted Isomerization of Benzyl Oxiranyl Ethers.

The base-promoted isomerization of benzyl oxiranyl ethers was investigated. In particular it was shown that the reaction may proceed toward two main regioisomeric products: a benzyl vinyl ether or a 2-aryl-3-(hydroxyalkyl)oxetane, depending on subtle variations in the substitution on the phenyl ring. Disubstituted oxetanes were obtained in a stereoselective manner, thus providing a good entry to this class of synthetically useful compounds.