Estimation of urinary cotinine cut-off points distinguishing non-smokers, passive and active smokers.

An objective assessment of exposure to tobacco smoke may be accomplished by means of examining particular biomarkers in body fluids. The most common biomarker of tobacco smoke exposure is urinary, or serum, cotinine. In order to distinguish non-smokers from passive smokers and passive smokers from active smokers, it is necessary to estimate cotinine cut-off points.

[Determination of urinary cotinine and 1-hydroxypyrene and blood carboxyhemoglobine as the biomarkers of tobacco smoke exposure].

The following biomarkers: cotinine, 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) and carboxyhemoglobin (HbCO) were used for the estimation of the tobacco smoke exposure. In our study urine and blood sampled from 98 volunteers were subjected to assessment of the biomarkers concentrations under investigation. According to the self-reports of the volunteers, all of the volunteers were divided into three groups: non-smokers, passive and active smokers.

[Effect of accumulating fluorine and sulphur compounds on the content of chlorophyll in pine needles (Pinus sylvestris L.) from some areas of southern Poland in 2001-2003].

Concentrations of F(-), S and chlorophyll in needles of pines growing near metallurgical works and power plants were determined. A statistically significant positive correlation between F(-) (in the range of 4.32 to 21.

Toxicity and biodegradability of sulfonamides and products of their photocatalytic degradation in aqueous solutions.

The photocatalytic degradation of sulfacetamide, sulfathiazole, sulfamethoxazole and sulfadiazine in water solutions during their illumination of UV radiation (lambda(max) 366 nm) with TiO2 catalyst was examined. The growth-inhibition effect of sulfonamides and intermediate products theirs photodegradation was investigated in aqueous solution with the green alga Chlorella vulgaris. The biodegradability of the investigated compounds was determined in the illuminated solutions and is expressed as Biochemical Oxygen Demand.

[Biomarkers of tobacco smoke].

In order to estimate the exposure of passive and active smokers to tobacco smoke one can use the questionnaire method or laboratory examination of chemical compounds being widely accepted exposure biomarkers. Substances that make such biomarkers include some of the tobacco smoke components and its metabolites formed in the body. The study discusses two groups of biomarkers.

The separation of catalyst after photocatalytic reactions conducted in the presence of TiO2/FeCl3/UV.

One of the problems connected with wastewater treatment by the photocatalytic method in the presence of TiO2 suspension is necessity of the later catalyst separation. The method proposed by us for this purpose, consists in the usage of coagulation of TiO2 suspension with the aid of FeCl3, particularly in the cases when addition of the salt is used in order to intensification of the photocatalytic process. The effects of the TiO2 separation were studied from the mixtures, after photocatalytic Acid Orange 7 degradation, with dosage of FeCl3 at different stages of the process.

[Evaluation of the tobacco smoke exposure among students living in students' dormitories].

Passive smoking results from involuntary smoke inhalation in the environment where tobacco and other tobacco products are smoked. This is a common situation in numerous public objects, as restaurants, offices, dormitories and students' clubs. Non-smokers are exposed to very high concentrations of tobacco smoke in these places.

The influence of smoking on plasma homocysteine and cysteine levels in passive and active smokers.

Total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) and cysteine (tCys) levels are associated with cardiovascular diseases. One of the determinants that influence their levels is cigarette smoking. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between plasma levels of both amino acids and urinary cotinine concentration as a reliable biomarker of tobacco smoke exposure.

The influence of FeCl3 on the photocatalytic degradation of dissolved azo dyes in aqueous TiO2 suspensions.

The study concerned decolouration of solutions of azo, anionic (Acid Orange 7, Reactive Red 45, Acid Yellow 23) and cationic (Basic Blue 41 and Basic Orange 66) dyes during illumination with UV (lambdamax 366 nm) irradiation in the presence of TiO2 and FeCl3. The process of decolouration during illumination of the solutions studied containing FeCl3 underwent significant intensification in the case of anionic dyes and unfavourable inhibition in case of cationic dyes. It was also observed that FeCl3 had a diverse influence on the adsorption of the dyes studied on TiO2.