RESUMEN
Fourth-generation 'pod' e-cigarette devices have been driven by technological advances in electronic atomization of the e-liquid. Use of microporous ceramic as a wicking material improves heating efficiency, but how it affects the chemical emissions of these devices is unclear. We assessed the emissions of a pod e-cigarette with innovative ceramic wick-based technology and two flavoured e-liquids containing nicotine lactate and nicotine benzoate (57 and 18 mg mL-1 nicotine, respectively). Among the studied harmful and potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs) listed by the US FDA and/or WHO TobReg, only 5 (acetone, acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, naphthalene and nornicotine) were quantified at levels of 0.14 to 100 ng puff-1. In the combustible cigarette (Kentucky reference 1R6F), levels were from 0.131 to 168 µg puff-1. Nicotine levels ranged 0.10-0.32 mg puff-1 across the 3 study products. From the 19 proposed HPHCs specifically of concern in e-cigarettes, only 3 (glycerol, isoamyl acetate and propylene glycol) were quantified. The low/undetectable levels of HPHCs reflect not only the optimal operating conditions of the e-cigarette, including an efficient supply of e-liquid by the ceramic wick without overheating, but also the potential of the e-cigarettes to be used as an alternative to combustible cigarettes.
Asunto(s)
Sistemas Electrónicos de Liberación de Nicotina , Acetaldehído , Acetona , Aerosoles , Benzoatos , Cerámica , Formaldehído , Gases , Glicerol , Lactatos , Naftalenos , Nicotina , Propilenglicol , TecnologíaRESUMEN
Many chemicals with different physico-chemical properties are present in municipal wastewater. In this study, the removal of a broad range of trace organic chemicals (TOrCs) was determined in two biological treatment processes differing in hydraulic retention time: sequential biofiltration (SBF) and soil-aquifer treatment (SAT), operated in Germany and Spain. Occurrence and the degree of removal of more than 150 TOrCs with different physico-chemical properties were analysed, including precursors as well as human metabolites and environmental transformation products (TPs). Ninety TOrCs were detected in the feed water of the SBF system, 40% of these showed removal efficiencies of higher than 30% during biological treatment. In SAT, 70 TOrCs were detected in the feed water, 60% of these could be reduced by more than 30% after approximately 3 days of subsurface treatment. For uncharged and negatively charged TOrCs biological degradation was mainly responsible for the removal, while positively charged TOrCs were most likely also removed by ionic interactions. The detections of TPs confirmed that biodegradation was a major removal process in both systems. The analysis of positively and negatively charged, neutral and zwitterionic TOrCs and the simultaneous analysis of precursors and their biologically formed TPs enabled a detailed understanding of underlying mechanisms of their removal in the two systems. On this basis, criteria for site-specific indicator selection were proposed.
Asunto(s)
Agua Subterránea , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua , Purificación del Agua , Alemania , Compuestos Orgánicos , Suelo , EspañaRESUMEN
We examined whether it is possible to increase the antipsoriatic action by combining dithranol with a retinoid (tazarotene). In a randomized, open, prospective study with 50 psoriatic patients (22 females, 28 males, PASI>10) the antipsoriatic effectiveness of dithranol monotherapy to was compared combined therapy with dithranol and retinoid. The combination dithranol/retinoid (collective 2, reduction of the PASI from 17,2 to 2,8) revealed a significantly faster healing than the dithranol monotherapy (collective 1, reduction of the PASI from 18,5 to 4,8). The irritation of the combination therapy as evaluated with clinical score and laser doppler imaging was increased. Anti-psoriatic effectiveness of dithranol can be increased by combining it with tazarotene.
Asunto(s)
Antralina/uso terapéutico , Fármacos Dermatológicos/uso terapéutico , Ácidos Nicotínicos/uso terapéutico , Psoriasis/tratamiento farmacológico , Enfermedad Crónica , Combinación de Medicamentos , Sinergismo Farmacológico , Femenino , Geles/uso terapéutico , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Estudios Prospectivos , Retinoides/uso terapéuticoRESUMEN
In a randomized study 30 patients with chronic stationary psoriasis were treated with 3 different topical schemes. Group 1 (n = 10) received monotherapy (dithranol (D) twice a day, D/D), group 2 (n = 10) calcipotriol mornings/dithranol evenings (calcipotriol (C)/dithranol (D) C/D) and 3 (mometasone (M) mornings/dithranol (D) evenings, M/D). During the therapy period of 4 weeks we documented the PASI-Score as well as infiltration, erythema and desquamation weekly. The M/D group revealed in the first week a significantly faster reduction of the PASI-score (5.3) than in the D/D group (PASI 13.22). The C/D group (PASI 10.5) show a not significantly faster reduction. After 4 weeks of treatment and after a follow period of 6 weeks there were similar PASI-Scores in all groups. There were less side-effects in the M/D group than in the others. The beginning, more anti-psoriatic effectiveness was achieved by the mometasone/dithranol combination than the other schemes. In the long term, the effects were similar.