Monitoring the occurrence of emerging contaminants in treated wastewater and groundwater between 2008 and 2010. The Baix Llobregat (Barcelona, Spain).

The occurrence of 166 emerging compounds and four heavy metals (Cd, Ni, Hg and Pb) in treated wastewater and groundwater has been monitored at the Llobregat delta (Barcelona, Spain) over a period of 3 years. Selected compounds were pharmaceuticals, personal care products (PCPs), dioxins, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and priority substances included in the 2008/105/CE Directive. Analysis was performed in tertiary treated wastewater (TWW), after an additional treatment of ultrafiltration reverse osmosis and UV disinfection, and groundwater from a deep confined aquifer.

Prevention information: patient perceptions regarding general and race-based instruction.

Introduction: The benefits of a healthy lifestyle are well-known. However, translating such information into behavior change is challenging. We explored patient perception in regard to how frequently this information is being disseminated, whether it may alter patient behavior, and whether information tailored to race versus general information is desirable.

A brief office intervention is associated with increased days per week of exercise.

Objective: We hypothesized that a cardiologist-initiated motivational discussion during a routine general cardiology clinic visit that included an exercise 'contract' signed by the patient, physician and a witness, would increase self-reported days per week of exercise.

Methods: A short-term pilot intervention was provided to forty consecutive general cardiology clinic patients who were enrolled in 2005. They were asked to answer the question "How many days each week do you exercise" prior to the motivational discussion and at routine follow-up.

A brief office intervention is associated with improved health measures.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality for adults in developed countries. Many risk factors responsible for the development of cardiovascular disease are associated with behavior. We studied whether encouraging patients to be accountable for their own lifestyle choices would lead to improvements in subjective and objective health measures in 26 consecutive general cardiology clinic patients.