Effects of Night-Time Use of Rotigotine on Nocturnal Symptoms in Parkinson's Disease.

Objectives. This open-label study assessed the efficacy and safety of exclusive night-time administration of transdermal rotigotine in patients with nocturnal and early morning PD symptoms. Methods.

Concentrations and specific loads of brominated flame retardants in sewage sludge.

Many substances related to human activities end up in wastewater and accumulate in sewage sludge. The present study focuses on two classes of brominated flame retardants: polybrominated diphenyl ethers (BDE28, BDE47, BDE49, BDE66, BDE85, BDE99, BDE100, BDE119, BDE138, BDE153, BDE154, BDE183, BDE209) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) detected in sewage sludge collected from a monitoring network in Switzerland. Mean concentrations (n=16 wastewater treatment plants) were 310, 149, 95 and 17microg per kg dry matter for decaBDE, HBCD, penta- and octaBDE, respectively.

Organic pollutants in compost and digestate. Part 2. Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, and -furans, dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls, brominated flame retardants, perfluorinated alkyl substances, pesticides, and other compounds.

Compost and digestate are important recycling fertilizers and have beneficial effects on soil parameters. However, they can contain significant amounts of organic pollutants. Here, the first comprehensive data set on dibenzo-p-dioxins and -furans (PCDD/F), dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCB), brominated flame retardants, perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), pesticides, phthalates, nonylphenol and chlorinated paraffins (CP) in source-separated compost and digestate from Switzerland is presented (n = 3-18).

Organic pollutants in compost and digestate. Part 1. Polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and molecular markers.

In Europe, 9.3 x 10(6) t(dry weight (dw)) of compost and digestate are produced per year. Most of this is applied to agricultural land, which can lead to considerable inputs of organic pollutants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) to soil.

Multigeneration effects of insect growth regulators on the springtail Folsomia candida.

Multigeneration tests are very useful for the assessment of long term toxicity of pollutants such as endocrine disruptor compounds. In this study, multigeneration reproduction tests adapted from the ISO standard 11267 were conducted with the Collembola Folsomia candida. Springtails were exposed to artificial soil contaminated with four insect growth regulators (methoprene, fenoxycarb, teflubenzuron, and precocene II) according to two different experimental set-ups.

Effects of dinoseb on energy reserves in the soil arthropod Folsomia candida.

This study evaluated the usefulness of energy reserves as an early warning system in Folsomia candida when exposed to the pesticide dinoseb. After different exposure times, survival, reproduction, growth (weight and length), lipid and protein content of the organisms were determined. After six days of exposure at 15-30microg of dinoseb/g dry soil, the weight, lipid, and protein content of the exposed organisms were higher than the controls.

Fate of PCBs, PAHs and their source characteristic ratios during composting and digestion of source-separated organic waste in full-scale plants.

Composting and digestion are important waste management strategies. However, the resulting products can contain significant amounts of organic pollutants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In this study we followed the concentration changes of PCBs and PAHs during composting and digestion on field-scale for the first time.

Dioxin contamination in soils of Southern Vietnam.

Dioxin is the common name for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and is abbreviated as PCDD/Fs. In the case of Southern Vietnam, is of high concern dioxin contamination in the areas affected by past-use chemical defoliants. Our study related to the zone considered as a "hot spot"--Bien Hoa Airbase and surrounding areas (Bien Hung Lake).

Fate and removal of polycyclic musks, UV filters and biocides during wastewater treatment.

The fate of polycyclic musks (PCMs) (HHCB, AHTN, ADBI, AHDI, ATII, DPMI), UV filters (3-(4-methylbenzylidene) camphor, 4-MBC; octyl-methoxycinnamate, OMC; octocrylene, OC; octyl-triazone, OT) and biocides (permethrin, carbendazim) during wastewater treatment was studied on a full-scale plant. Average influent concentrations of OMC, HHCB, OC, AHTN, 4-MBC and OT were at 20070, 4420, 1680, 1430, 960 and 720 ng L(-1), respectively. The other PCMs, permethrin and carbendazim ranged between < limits of quantification and 670 ng L(-1).

Effects of insect growth regulators on the nontarget soil arthropod Folsomia candida (Collembola).

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of several insect growth regulators (IGRs) on the nontarget soil arthropod Folsomia candida (Collembola). The survival and reproduction rates of F. candida were evaluated after 28 days of exposure to six IGRs (methoprene, fenoxycarb, precocene II, tebufenozide, hexaflumuron and teflubenzuron) and to one herbicide (diuron) in artificial soil.

Concentrations and specific loads of UV filters in sewage sludge originating from a monitoring network in Switzerland.

Many substances related to human activities end up in wastewater and accumulate in sewage sludge. The present study focuses on the analysis of widely used UV filters 3-(4-methylbenzylidene) camphor (4-MBC), octyl-methoxycinnamate (OMC), octocrylene (OC) and octyl-triazone (OT) in sewage sludge originating from a monitoring network in Switzerland. Mean concentrations in stabilised sludge from 14 wastewater treatment plants were 1780, 110, 4840 and 5510 microg/kg dry matter for 4-MBC, OMC, OC and OT, respectively.

Modeling the concentration-response function of the herbicide dinoseb on Daphnia magna (survival time, reproduction) and Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata (growth rate).

Models describing dose-response relationships are becoming increasingly popular in ecotoxicology. They allow simple and thorough evaluations of toxicity test results, including inter- and extrapolations to concentrations or exposure times other than those tested. Simple parametric regression models are of particular interest because their parameters may be attributed mechanistic meanings and they can be applied without sophisticated mathematical and computational support.

Occurrence of several acidic drugs in sewage treatment plants in Switzerland and risk assessment.

The occurrence and fate of five acidic drugs (Mefenamic acid, Ibuprofen, Ketoprofen, Diclofenac and Clofibric acid) were analysed in three sewage treatment plants (STP) over 4-7 consecutive days. The results point out that the five substances were persistent in wastewater effluents after municipal wastewater treatment. At the most, half of Mefenamic acid was eliminated.

Persistent organic pollutants in source-separated compost and its feedstock materials--a review of field studies.

Composting and the application of compost to the soil follow the principle of recycling and sustainability. Compost can also have a positive effect on physical, chemical, and biological soil parameters. However, little is known about the origin, concentration, and transformation of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in compost.

Considerations about the enantioselective transformation of polycyclic musks in wastewater, treated wastewater and sewage sludge and analysis of their fate in a sequencing batch reactor plant.

The present work consists of two distinct parts: in the first part enantioselective GC was used to separate the different enantiomeric/diastereomeric polycyclic musks, PCMs (HHCB, AHTN, AHDI, ATII and DPMI) including the main transformation product of HHCB, HHCB-lactone, in wastewater and sewage sludge. After optimization all PCMs were resolved on a cyclodextrin containing Rt-BDEXcst capillary GC column. Enantiomeric ratios of PCMs in a technical mixture were determined and compared to those obtained from enantioselective separation of wastewater and sewage sludge samples.

Tropical ecotoxicity testing with Ceriodaphnia cornuta.

The Sai Gon-Dong Nai river system in southern Vietnam is of great social and economic importance yet receives a large amount of industrial, domestic, and agricultural discharges. Toxicity assessment has started to become an issue in Vietnam, and it is important to employ a test system that is appropriate for typical Vietnamese conditions with a species that is representative of the invertebrates living in its aquatic ecosystems. The aim of this study was to develop and to validate an ecotoxicity test with an autochthonous organism.

Urban stormwater contamination by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and its importance for urban water systems in Switzerland.

Like other persistent organic pollutants (POPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are still present in the environment despite their almost worldwide prohibition. A study was conducted over 1 year in Switzerland to analyze the source and load of PCBs in urban stormwater and their importance in urban water systems. The mean PCB concentrations of 89 rain events were determined in five different strictly separate drainage systems (three in Lausanne and two in Geneva).

Concentrations and specific loads of polycyclic musks in sewage sludge originating from a monitoring network in Switzerland.

Polycyclic musks (HHCB, AHTN, ADBI, AHDI, ATII) and a metabolite of HHCB (HHCB-lactone) were analyzed in sewage sludge samples within the framework of a monitoring network in Switzerland. Mean values in stabilised sludge from 16 wastewater treatment plants were 20.3 mg/kg d.

Hsp70 instability and induction by a pesticide in Folsomia candida.

The heat shock protein Hsp70 has been shown to be a promising biomarker in aquatic and terrestrial organisms. However, its analysis in the soil insect Folsomia candida (Collembola) poses many problems as the protein is particularly unstable in this species. Western blotting has shown that the principal degradation fragment has a size of 48 kDa.

Effects of dinoseb on the life cycle of Daphnia magna: modeling survival time and a proposal for an alternative to the no-observed-effect concentration.

Risk assessment is in urgent need of more accurate toxic effect endpoints than those currently in use, especially for low concentrations. Often such endpoints are estimated by analysis of variance, linear interpolation, or smoothing. As these statistical methods are not always satisfactory, some authors have proposed to describe the entire dose-response curves by fully formalized parametric regression models whose parameters have toxicological meaning.

Degradation in soil and water and ecotoxicity of rimsulfuron and its metabolites.

The degradation and ecotoxicity of sulfonylurea herbicide rimsulfuron and its major metabolites were examined in batch samples of an alluvial sandy loam and in freshwater. An HPLC-DAD method was adapted to simultaneously identify and quantify rimsulfuron and its metabolites, which was successfully validated by GC-MS analysis. In aqueous solutions, pure rimsulfuron was rapidly hydrolyzed into metabolite 1 (N-(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl)-N-(3-(ethylsulfonyl)-2-pyridinylurea)), which itself was transformed into the more stable metabolite 2 (N-((3-(ethylsulfonyl)-2-pyridinyl)-4,6-dimethoxy-2-pyrimidineamine)), with half-life (t(1/2)) values of 2 and 2.

Estrogenic activity assessment of environmental chemicals using in vitro assays: identification of two new estrogenic compounds.

Environmental chemicals with estrogenic activities have been suggested to be associated with deleterious effects in animals and humans. To characterize estrogenic chemicals and their mechanisms of action, we established in vitro and cell culture assays that detect human estrogen receptor [alpha] (hER[alpha])-mediated estrogenicity. First, we assayed chemicals to determine their ability to modulate direct interaction between the hER[alpha] and the steroid receptor coactivator-1 (SRC-1) and in a competition binding assay to displace 17ss-estradiol (E(2)).