Firearm prevalence and social capital.

PURPOSE: Previous studies have shown a correlation between measures of social capital and morbidity, mortality, and violent crime. This article examines the association across U.S. states between social capital (as measured by mutual trust and civic engagement) and firearm availability. METHODS: The analysis uses OLS to determine degrees of association across U.S. states. Measures of mutual trust come from responses to questions on the U.S. General Social Survey that "you can't be too careful in dealing with people," and most people "would try to take advantage of you." Measures of formal civic engagement come from responses to Lifestyle Survey questions concerning times volunteered, club meetings attended, community projects worked on, and church services attended. Informal civic engagement measures come from responses to number of times bowled, played cards, entertained at home, and gave or attended dinner parties, and number of greeting cards sent. The Lifestyle Survey also asked whether respondent believed whether "most people are honest." The percentage of suicides from firearms, and the average percentage of suicides and homicides from firearms, are used as proxies for state firearm ownership rates. Control variables are the degree of urbanization, the rates of poverty, and the percentage of nonwhites in the state. RESULTS: Across the U.S. states, higher levels of firearm ownership are associated with significantly lower levels of mutual trust and civic engagement. CONCLUSION: While the analysis cannot show causation, states with heavily armed civilians are also states with low levels of social capital.

Early presentation of hemispheric intracerebral hemorrhage: prediction of outcome and guidelines for treatment allocation.

Criteria for selecting patients for possible surgery in the management of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) are needed to plan a prospective therapeutic evaluation of surgical intervention. This study specifically addressed patients seen in the emergency room within a few hours of the ictus, many of whom were still awake, to identify and subsequently exclude from surgical procedure those expected to recover completely and those expected to die regardless of treatment. We retrospectively studied 75 patients evaluated at a mean time of 3 hours and 37 minutes after hemispheric ICH to determine factors that would predict both good and poor outcomes at the time of discharge. Eighty percent of our patients presented within 6 hours of symptom onset. These patients were younger and had more severe lesions than did those presenting later, yet most were still awake (mean admission Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] score = 11.0). Using multivariate regression, we created two models. The first model predicts independent outcome, ie, Rankin 0 to 2, of all patients with a GCS score greater than 9 on admission who do not undergo surgery. The significant factors in this model were hemorrhage diameter, intraventricular extension, and age. The second model predicts poor outcome, ie, Rankin 5 and death, of all patients. GCS score, hemorrhage volume, age, and gender were the important factors in this model. We conclude that ICH patients presenting early to the emergency room have more severe lesions radiologically, although their initial clinical status may not be different from those seen late. Our models should identify and thus exclude those with very good and very poor prognoses from future randomized surgical trials.

The feasibility of processing lead-based paint abatement wastes through primary and secondary lead smelters.

This study was undertaken to determine the feasibility of processing soil and lead-based paint (LBP) abatement waste through primary and secondary lead smelting facilities. The main objectives were to determine the compatibility of soil and LBP abatement waste with lead smelting circuits; the costs associated with transporting and processing the abatement waste through a smelter; and a review of major environmental laws or regulations which may impact the lead smelting industry's ability to carry out this process. While not all categories of LBP wastes are suited for reclamation through lead smelters, sufficient classes are to make the effort worthwhile. Specifically, lead paint chips, dusts, heatgun sludge, soils and certain blasting abrasives appear metallurgically compatible with the lead smelting circuits. Additionally, there do not appear to be any current regulatory statutes that forbid the process from being carried out, so long as certain permit modifications are obtained. Finally, the estimated smelting costs seem to compare favourably with current treatment and disposal fees at approved landfills. However, despite the promise of these initial findings, a great deal of work remains to be done if the concept of processing lead paint wastes through lead smelters for reclamation is to become a reality.

Inhalation exposure of cadmium workers: effects of respirator usage.

The objective of this study was to determine the average reduction in inhalation exposures produced by intermittent use of filter cartridge respirators by cadmium workers. Inhalation exposure was estimated by measuring the cadmium concentration inside the respirator while it was worn or hanging around the worker's neck. Air concentrations of cadmium were measured simultaneously inside the respirator and at the worker's lapel with a dual sampling system. Each of nine workers were measured on three consecutive days for a full work shift. The average inhalation exposures ranged from 3 to 67 micrograms/m3 while the TWA lapel concentrations ranged from 19 to 3600 micrograms/m3; respirator use produced a substantial reduction in inhalation exposures when lapel concentrations were above 100 micrograms/m3. On the average, the inhalation exposure was 26% of the lapel concentration, but the effective protection varied widely between individuals and from day to day. If used cautiously, this relationship may be useful for estimating the approximate average inhalation exposure of a group of workers routinely using half mask respirators.

Trace metal contamination of evacuated blood collection tubes.

A study was undertaken to investigate the magnitude of potential trace metal contamination contributed by various commercial evacuated blood tubes to blood samples under experimental conditions. None of the tubes tested contributed significant Cu contamination whereas the 1% nitric acid and human blood leaching data clearly indicate that Zn, Pb and Cd contamination of blood samples can be a significant problem with certain blood collection tubes under normal handling, shipping and storage conditions. The implications of these experimental findings are discussed. It is recommended that several of the evacuated blood tubes be leach tested prior to use with blood or plasma and the eluate analyzed for potential trace metal contamination problems.

Results of trace arsenic analyses performed by various laboratories.

Personal monitor filter cassettes were spiked with a known amount of arsenic and sent to various laboratories in the public and private sectors for analysis. Results and methods of analysis are discussed in light of proposed arsenic standards. Comparison indicates a high degree of analytical precision and accuracy are lacking.