Investigations on indoor Radon in Austria, part 2: Geological classes as categorical external drift for spatial modelling of the Radon potential.

Geological classes are used to model the deterministic (drift or trend) component of the Radon potential (Friedmann's RP) in Austria. It is shown that the RP can be grouped according to geological classes, but also according to individual geological units belonging to the same class. Geological classes can thus serve as predictors for mean RP within the classes.

Investigations on indoor radon in Austria, Part 1: Seasonality of indoor radon concentration.

In general, indoor radon concentration is subject to seasonal variability. The reasons are to be found (1) in meteorological influence on the transport properties of soil, e.g.

Survey of 2-ethylhexanoic acid in baby food.

A solid-phase microextraction method was developed and used to perform a survey of 2-ethylhexanoic acid (2-EHA) in 63 samples of baby food from 13 European Union countries, as well as from Norway and Switzerland. The levels of 2-EHA did not exceed 3.4 mg kg(-1).

Occurrence of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in Lake Maggiore (Italy and Switzerland).

Samples of air (gas and particulate phases), bulk deposition, aquatic settling material and sediments were collected in Lake Maggiore (LM) in order to determine their content of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Air (gas and particulate phases) concentrations were 0.5 pg m(-3), 80 pg m(-3), 13 pg m(-3) and 106 pg m(-3) for SigmaPCDD/Fs, SigmaPCBs, Sigma dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs) and SigmaPBDEs, respectively.

Life cycle thinking in waste management: summary of European Commission's Malta 2005 workshop and pilot studies.

Life cycle thinking is essential to consider the implications of different waste management systems beyond their traditional regional boundaries. Building on data provided by representatives of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia, the European Commission's DG JRC conducted a series of life cycle pilot studies in the context of municipal waste management. The results were presented in a JRC workshop in Malta, where the government representatives also outlined their national strategies focusing on the main related achievements.

Activity ratios of 137Cs, 90Sr and 239+240Pu in environmental samples.

Both global and Chernobyl fallout have resulted in environmental contamination with radionuclides such as 137Cs, 90Sr and 239+240Pu. In environmental samples, 137Cs and 239+240Pu can be divided into the contributions of either source, if also the isotopes 134Cs and 238Pu are measurable, based on the known isotopic ratios in global and Chernobyl fallout. No analogous method is available for 90Sr.

A geostatistical autopsy of the Austrian indoor radon survey (1992-2002).

Indoor radon (Rn) concentrations have been measured intensively in many countries to assess the burden of diseases associated with exposure to this radioactive gas. So-called radon-risk maps have consequently been produced to delineate areas with high levels. Geostatistical techniques are commonly used nowadays to map a range of environmental variables, in particular to generate probability maps of exceeding a given threshold.

Polar herbicides, pharmaceutical products, perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), and nonylphenol and its carboxylates and ethoxylates in surface and tap waters around Lake Maggiore in Northern Italy.

A survey of contamination of surface and drinking waters around Lake Maggiore in Northern Italy with polar anthropogenic environmental pollutants has been conducted. The target analytes were polar herbicides, pharmaceuticals (including antibiotics), steroid estrogens, perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (including perfluorooctanoate PFOA), nonylphenol and its carboxylates and ethoxylates (NPEO surfactants), and triclosan, a bactericide used in personal-care products. Analysis of water samples was performed by solid-phase extraction (SPE) then liquid chromatography-triple-quadrupole (tandem) mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS).

Solid-phase microextraction method for the determination of hexanal in hazelnuts as an indicator of the interaction of active packaging materials with food aroma compounds.

Fatty foods are susceptible to lipid oxidation resulting in deterioration of product quality due to the generation of off-flavours. Hexanal is a good indicator of rancidity. Therefore, a method based on solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled to gas chromatograph with flame ionization detection was developed to determine hexanal formation in hazelnuts during storage.

A note on 207Bi in environmental samples.

Traces of the radionuclide (207)Bi were identified in soil and cryoconite (glacier sediment) samples from Alpine regions of Austria. This nuclide has been produced in thermonuclear explosions mainly in the early 1960s and subsequently dispersed in the atmosphere. Activity concentrations up to 22 Bq/kg d.

LC-MS-MS analysis and occurrence of octyl- and nonylphenol, their ethoxylates and their carboxylates in Belgian and Italian textile industry, waste water treatment plant effluents and surface waters.

Alkylphenols (APs), alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEOs), ethoxycarboxylate metabolites (APECs) and bisphenol A were determined in surface water using solid-phase extraction (SPE) followed by triple-quadrupole LC-MS-MS. APs were separated by LC from APECs using an acetonitrile-water-gradient without the addition of any buffer. Nonylphenol ethoxycarboxylates (NPECs) interfere in the detection of nonylphenols (NPs) when using an acidic mobile phase, because they produce the same MS-MS fragment ions (219>133 and 147).

Development of an innovative immunoassay for CP4EPSPS and Cry1AB genetically modified protein detection and quantification.

An innovative immunoassay, called enzyme-linked immunoabsorbant assay (ELISA) Reverse, based on a new conformation of the solid phase, was developed. The solid support was expressly designed to be immersed directly in liquid samples to detect the presence of protein targets. Its application is proposed in those cases where a large number of samples have to be screened simultaneously or when the simultaneous detection of different proteins is required.

Experimental and computational validation of BDTPS using a heterogeneous boron phantom.

The idea to couple the treatment planning system (TPS) to the information on the real boron distribution in the patient acquired by positron emission tomography (PET) is the main added value of the new methodology set-up at DIMNP (Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica, Nucleare e della Produzione) of University of Pisa, in collaboration with the JRC (Joint Research Centre) at Petten (NL). This methodology has been implemented in a new TPS, called Boron Distribution Treatment Planning System (BDTPS), which takes into account the actual boron distribution in the patient's organ, as opposed to other TPSs used in BNCT that assume an ideal uniform boron distribution. BDTPS is based on the Monte Carlo technique and has been experimentally validated comparing the computed main parameters (thermal neutron flux, boron dose, etc.

Life cycle assessment part 2: current impact assessment practice.

Providing our society with goods and services contributes to a wide range of environmental impacts. Waste generation, emissions and the consumption of resources occur at many stages in a product's life cycle-from raw material extraction, energy acquisition, production and manufacturing, use, reuse, recycling, through to ultimate disposal. These all contribute to impacts such as climate change, stratospheric ozone depletion, photooxidant formation (smog), eutrophication, acidification, toxicological stress on human health and ecosystems, the depletion of resources and noise-among others.

Determination of the artificial sweetener Sucralose by capillary electrophoresis.

The artificial intense sweetener 1,6-dichloro-1,6-dideoxy-beta-D-fructofuranosyl-4-chloro-4-deoxy-alpha-D-galactopyranose (Sucralose) was determined by capillary electrophoresis with indirect ultraviolet absorption in a 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid buffer at pH 12.1. The method allowed determination of Sucralose in low-calorie soft drinks, without any sample clean-up over a linear range of 42-1000 mg x l(-1) (r=0.

Review of concentrations and chemistry of trichloroacetate in the environment.

This paper reviews the concentrations of trichloroacetate (TCA) in the atmosphere-plant-soil system. Data originate mainly from Europe. The median TCA concentration in rainwater and canopy drip decreased until 1995.

Time-temperature study of the kinetics of migration of BADGE (bisphenol-A-diglycidyl-ether) into a fatty medium.

The migration kinetics of bisphenol-A-diglycidyl-ether (BADGE) from processed and non-processed model cans into vegetable oil was investigated as a function of the process treatment and the temperature of storage. Cans were either not heat-treated at all or were processed at 115 degrees C for 30 min or for 1 h after filling with oil. Each series of experiments comprised 30 samples and was further divided into three groups to be stored at different temperatures (20, 40 and 60 degrees C).

Creation of on-line solutions in support of the dissemination of legislative and analytical information on food-contact materials.

To facilitate access to European Commission (EC) documentation and provide a public service resource of relevant information an Internet site dedicated to food-contact materials was created (http://cpf.jrc.it/webpack/) in 1998.

Self-absorption correction in standardisation of 204Tl.

In the frame of the CCRI(II) (Consultative Committee for Ionizing Radiation at the BIPM) working group on 204Tl, dedicated to investigate the problem and explain the reasons for the discrepancy between methods in standardisation of 204Tl, IRMM was assigned the task of studying the influence of self-absorption in solid sources of 204Tl. This was investigated by measuring the activity of quantitative solid sources of different carrier content, prepared by employing a special source drying technique, developed at IRMM. The activity of the solid sources was determined using a 4pi pressurised proportional counter.

Estimation of intake of bisphenol-A-diglycidyl-ether (BADGE) from canned fish consumption in Europe and migration survey.

The exposure to bisphenol-A-diglycidyl-ether (BADGE) from canned fish in oil was assessed from consumption data collected for each Member State of the European Union and Switzerland, and migration data from a European survey on 382 samples. Trade figures were used when no consumption data were available. The average consumption of canned fish in Europe was 2.

An Internet compendium of analytical methods and spectroscopic information for monomers and additives used in food packaging plastics.

An internet website (http:¿cpf.jrc.it/smt/) has been produced as a means of dissemination of methods of analysis and supporting spectroscopic information on monomers and additives used for food contact materials (principally packaging).

Stability testing of selected plastics additives for food contact in EU aqueous, fatty and alternative simulants.

Within the framework of the AIR3-CT94-2360 EU-project, the stability of three plastics additives in three EU aqueous and fatty food simulants and in two alternative simulants was studied under various time-temperature conditions. The additives tested were bis(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA), bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and octadecyl 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate (Irganox 1076). The various test conditions included exposures of 10 days at 40 degrees C, 1 h at reflux temperature for all aqueous simulants, 10 days at 40 degrees C and 1 h 175 degrees C for the olive oil and 2 days at 20 degrees C and 3 h at 60 degrees C for the isooctane simulant.

Monitoring of bisphenol-A-diglycidyl-ether (BADGE) in canned fish in oil.

A survey at the European levels was initiated on the quantification of bisphenol-A-diglycidyl-ether (BADGE) in canned fish in oil in order to assess the exposure of BADGE. A total of 382 canned fish sample were collected from all 15 Member States and Switzerland and analysed for BADGE in fish. The fish was extracted first with hexane and reextracted with acetonitrile, followed by a membrane filtration and reverse phase HPLC analysis with fluorescence detection.