Cadmium, lead, copper and mercury levels in fresh and canned bivalve mussels Tagelus dombeii (Navajuela) and Semelle sólida (Almeja) from the Chilean coast.

Samples of bivalve mussels Tagelus dombeii and Semelle sólida (Navajuelas and Almejas chilenas, respectively) caught at different sites along the coast of Chile were analysed for Cu, Cd, Hg and Pb content. The analyses were performed on samples of fresh and canned products, classified according to their length. Each Navajuela sample was divided into two subsamples.

[Aluminum-related bone disease in chronic hemodialysis patients].

Plasma aluminum (pAl) was measured in 58 patients coming from three centers using different preparation of dialysis water: deionizer (29 patients), softener (16 patients) and reverse osmosis (13 patients). Twenty five healthy subjects were used as controls. A deferoxamine test was performed to 11 of 19 patients with pAl between 40 and 200 micrograms/dl and a bone biopsy with double tetracycline staining was executed to 15 patients with pAl over 40 micrograms/dl.

Degradation of 2,4-dinitrophenol by two Rhodococcus erythropolis strains, HL 24-1 and HL 24-2.

Two Rhodococcus erythropolis strains, HL 24-1 and HL 24-2, were isolated from soil and river water by their abilities to utilize 2,4-dinitrophenol (0.5 mM) as the sole source of nitrogen. Although succinate was supplied as a carbon and energy source during selection, both isolates could utilize 2,4-dinitrophenol also as the sole source of carbon.

Toxic trace elements in Chilean seafoods: development of analytical quality control procedures.

Chile is a well known producer and exporter of shell fish. These seafoods, like other specimens of marine origin, are susceptible to environmental and other contamination by trace elements, including toxicants. Therefore, adequate analytical quality assurance is mandatory before accepting analytical results.

Nitrosubstituted aromatic compounds as nitrogen source for bacteria.

Bacteria which utilized nitroaromatic compounds (0.5 mM) as sole source of nitrogen were isolated from soil. With 2,6-dinitrophenol and succinate as carbon source, a Pseudomonas strain was isolated which liberated and assimilated nitrite.