Evaluating a filtering and recirculating system to reduce dust drift in simulated sowing of dressed seed and abraded dust particle characteristics.

Background: The pneumatic precision drills used in maize sowing can release dust owing to abrasion of dressed seed; the drift of dust containing insecticide active ingredients is harmful to honey bees. Therefore, we developed a device for drills that uses partial recirculation and filtration of the air by means of an antipollen and an electrostatic filter.

Results: Tests were carried out by simulating the sowing of seed treated with imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, clothianidin and fipronil.

Potential exposure of bees, Apis mellifera L., to particulate matter and pesticides derived from seed dressing during maize sowing.

This paper assessed the potential exposure of bees (Apis mellifera L.) to pesticides during maize (Zea mays L.) sowing with pneumatic drills.

Sowing simulation tests of a pneumatic drill equipped with systems aimed at reducing the emission of abrasion dust from maize dressed seed.

The utilization of dressed seed for spring sowing is a widespread practice to control some pests with reduced doses of chemical products. However some insecticides employed in maize seed dressing, namely belonging to the neonicotinoid family and fipronil, have been claimed to play a role in the decline of honeybees (Apis mellifera L.).

Incidence rates of in-hospital carpal tunnel syndrome in the general population and possible associations with marital status.

Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a socially relevant condition associated with biomechanical risk factors. We evaluated age-sex-specific incidence rates of in-hospital cases of CTS in central/northern Italy and explored relations with marital status.

Methods: Seven regions were considered (overall population, 14.

[SIDRIA second phase: objectives, study design and methods].

The SIDRIA project (Italian Studies on Respiratory Disorders in Children and the Environment) is aimed at evaluating the prevalence of respiratory and allergic disorders, and their geographic and temporal variations, in the context of the ISAAC study (International study of asthma and allergies in Childhood). The SIDRIA study was specifically designed to evaluate the prevalence of a variety of environmental, social, behavioural and familiar risk factors, and to examine the association between these socio-environmental factors and asthma as well as other respiratory disorders in children. The first phase of SIDRIA was conducted in 1994-1995 in 10 areas of Northern and Central Italy.