A New Sturgeon Herpesvirus from Juvenile Lake Sturgeon Displaying Epithelial Skin Lesions.

Herpesvirus infections of sturgeon pose a potential threat to sturgeon culture efforts worldwide. A new epitheliotropic herpesvirus named Acipenser herpesvirus 3 (AciHV-3) was detected in hatchery-reared Lake Sturgeon displaying skin lesions in central Canada. The growths were discovered in the fall, reached average prevalence levels of 0.

Chalazal seed coat development in Brassica napus.

The chalazal seed coat (CZSC) is a maternal subregion adjacent to the funiculus which serves as the first point of entry into the developing seed. This subregion is of particular interest in Brassica napus (canola) because of its location within the seed and its putative contribution to seed filling processes. In this study, the CZSC of canola was characterized at an anatomical and molecular level to (i) describe the cellular and subcellular features of the CZSC throughout seed development, (ii) reveal cellular features of the CZSC that relate to transport processes, (iii) study gene activity of transporters and transcriptional regulators in the CZSC subregion over developmental time, and (iv) briefly investigate the contribution of the A and C constituent genomes to B.

Short, fine and WHO asbestos fibers in the lungs of quebec workers with an asbestos-related disease.

Background: The possible role of short asbestos fibers in the development of asbestos-related diseases and availability of lung fiber burden data prompted this study on the relationships between fiber characteristics and asbestos-related diseases among compensated workers.

Methods: Data collected between 1988 and 2007 for compensation purposes were used; lung asbestos fibers content of 123 Quebec workers are described according to socio-demographic characteristics, job histories and diseases (asbestosis, mesothelioma, lung cancer).

Results: Most workers (85%) presented chrysotile fibers in their lungs, and respectively 76%, 64%, and 43% had tremolite, amosite, and crocidolite.

ÉquiNanos: innovative team for nanoparticle risk management.

Unlabelled: Interactions between nanoparticles (NP), humans and the environment are not fully understood yet. Moreover, frameworks aiming at protecting human health have not been adapted to NP but are nonetheless applied to NP-related activities. Consequently, business organizations currently have to deal with NP-related risks despite the lack of a proven effective method of risk-management.

Bayesian estimation of the probability of asbestos exposure from lung fiber counts.

Asbestos exposure is a well-known risk factor for various lung diseases, and when they occur, workmen's compensation boards need to make decisions concerning the probability the cause is work related. In the absence of a definitive work history, measures of short and long asbestos fibers as well as counts of asbestos bodies in the lung can be used as diagnostic tests for asbestos exposure. Typically, data from one or more lung samples are available to estimate the probability of asbestos exposure, often by comparing the values with those from a reference nonexposed population.

Implementing fit testing for N95 filtering facepiece respirators: practical information from a large cohort of hospital workers.

Qualitative fit testing for N95 respirators was conducted on 1271 health care workers. All male participants were fitted with a respirator. Six females, all under age 40 years, were not successfully fitted.

Determinants of ultrafine particle exposures in transportation environments: findings of an 8-month survey conducted in Montréal, Canada.

An 8-month sampling campaign was conducted in Montréal, Canada to explore determinants of ultrafine particle (UFP) exposures in transportation environments and to develop models to predict such exposures. Between April and November 2006, UFP (0.02-1 mum) count exposure data were collected for one researcher during 80 morning and evening commutes including a 0.

Characterizing and predicting ultrafine particle counts in Canadian classrooms during the winter months: model development and evaluation.

School classrooms are potentially important micro-environments for childhood exposures owing to the large amount of time children spend in these locations. While a number of airborne contaminants may be present in schools, to date few studies have examined ultrafine particle (0.02-1 microm) (UFP) levels in classrooms.

Indoor ultrafine particle exposures and home heating systems: a cross-sectional survey of Canadian homes during the winter months.

Exposure to airborne particulate matter has a negative effect on respiratory health in both children and adults. Ultrafine particle (UFP) exposures are of particular concern owing to their enhanced ability to cause oxidative stress and inflammation in the lungs. In this investigation, our objective was to examine the contribution of home heating systems (electric baseboard heaters, wood stoves, forced-air oil/natural gas furnace) to indoor UFP exposures.

Exposure to aerosolized bacteria and fungi among collectors of commercial, mixed residential, recyclable and compostable waste.

Biological hazards associated with the collection of solid and compostable waste have not been well characterized in North America. This is an issue because workers who handle such materials may be exposed to bioaerosols (airborne bacteria and fungi) and dusts resulting in infections or allergic diseases. We conducted a personal sampling campaign for culturable bacteria and fungi in the breathing zones of waste collectors in a variety of typical work settings (scenarios) in the province of Quebec, Canada.

Exposure pathway assessment at a copper-beryllium alloy facility.

Controlling beryllium inhalation exposures to comply with regulatory levels (2 micro g m(-3) of air) does not appear to prevent beryllium sensitization and chronic beryllium disease (CBD). Additionally, it has proven difficult to establish a clear inhalation exposure-response relationship for beryllium sensitization and CBD. Thus, skin may be an important route of exposure that leads to beryllium sensitization.

Determination of airborne isocyanates generated during the thermal degradation of car paint in body repair shops.

Polyurethanes are widely used in car paint formulations. During thermal degradation, such polymeric systems can generate powerful asthmatic sensitizing agents named isocyanates. In body repair shops, the thermal degradation of car paint can occur during abrasive processes that generate enough heat to involve release of isocyanates in air.

Mineralogical and exposure determinants of pulmonary fibrosis among Québec chrysotile miners and millers.

Objectives: Lung fibre content was determined for 86 former chrysotile miners and millers in two Québec mining regions: Thetford mines (TM) and the Asbestos region (AR).

Methods: Fibres were assessed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS). Asbestos body (AB) concentrations were assessed by microscopy of tissue digests.

Assessment of exposure to quartz, cristobalite and silicon carbide fibres (whiskers) in a silicon carbide plant.

The main objective of the present paper is to report on the concentration of silicon carbide (SiC) fibres, crystalline silica and respirable dust in a Canadian SiC production plant and to compare the results with earlier investigations. The second objective is to tentatively explain the differences in concentration of the fibrogenic substances between different countries. The assessment of SiC fibres, dusts, respirable quartz and cristobalite was performed according to standard procedures.