Individual exposure level following indoor and outdoor air pollution exposure in Dakar (Senegal).

The consequences of indoor and outdoor air pollution on human health are of great concern nowadays. In this study, we firstly evaluated indoor and outdoor air pollution levels (CO, CO2, NO, NO2, PM10) at an urban site in Dakar city center and at a rural site. Then, the individual exposure levels to selected pollutants and the variations in the levels of biomarkers of exposure were investigated in different groups of persons (bus drivers, traders working along the main roads and housemaids). Benzene exposure levels were higher for housemaids than for bus drivers and traders. High indoor exposure to benzene is probably due to cooking habits (cooking with charcoal), local practices (burning of incense), the use of cleaning products or solvent products which are important emitters of this compound. These results are confirmed by the values of S-PMA, which were higher in housemaids group compared to the others. Urinary 1-HOP levels were significantly higher for urban site housemaids compared to semirural district ones. Moreover, urinary levels of DNA oxidative stress damage (8-OHdG) and inflammatory (interleukin-6 and -8) biomarkers were higher in urban subjects in comparison to rural ones. The air quality measurement campaign showed that the bus interior was more polluted with PM10, CO, CO2 and NO than the market and urban or rural households. However, the interior of households showed higher concentration of VOCs than outdoor sites confirming previous observations of higher indoor individual exposure level to specific classes of pollutants.

Behavior of Trifolium repens and Lolium perenne growing in a heavy metal contaminated field: Plant metal concentration and phytotoxicity.

The use of a vegetation cover for the management of heavy metal contaminated soils needs prior investigations on the plant species the best sustainable. In this work, behaviors of Trifolium repens and Lolium perenne, growing in a metal-polluted field located near a closed lead smelter, were investigated through Cd, Pb and Zn-plant metal concentrations and their phytotoxicity. In these plant species, metals were preferentially accumulated in roots than in shoots, as follow: Cd>Zn>Pb. Plant exposure to such metals induced oxidative stress in the considered organs as revealed by the variations in malondialdehyde levels and superoxide dismutase activities. These oxidative changes were closely related to metal levels, plant species and organs. Accordingly, L. perenne seemed to be more affected by metal-induced oxidative stress than T. repens. Taken together, these findings allow us to conclude that both the plant species could be suitable for the phytomanagement of metal-polluted soils.

Low-level environmental exposure to lead and renal adverse effects: a cross-sectional study in the population of children bordering the Mbeubeuss landfill near Dakar, Senegal.

This study deals with the health effects within a child population, neighbouring a landfill. After detecting metals in soil and air samples collected in the surroundings of the landfill and in a control site, we have studied: (i) levels of lead (Pb) and exposure biomarkers in blood and urine, (ii) oxidative stress biomarkers and (iii) renal injury by applying a set of early effect biomarkers. Levels of Pb were higher in the exposed site (i.e. 1129 mg/kg and 640 ng/m(3) in soil and air samples, respectively) versus those in the control site (i.e. 14.3 mg/kg and 9.3 ng/m(3) in soil and air samples, respectively). Pb impregnation and levels of delta-aminolevulinic acid in urine were influenced by the living site that shows the prevailingly alarming situation in the Mbeubeuss landfill. Malondialdehyde changes indicated Pb-induced excessive production of reactive oxygen species. Lactate dehydrogenase activities and proteinuria were found to be higher in the children living in the exposed site. These evidences may reveal the usefulness of these two effect biomarkers to monitor the kidney injury entailed by relatively low-environmental exposure to Pb. Overall, these results show that the Mbeubeuss landfill constitutes a real source of environmental and health risk, be it living or working on site, of the surrounding population, predominantly for children.

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the subclavian artery: early and late results.

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of 23 subclavian arteries was attempted in 22 patients. Dilatation was successful in 3 of 4 right subclavian artery stenoses and 18 of 19 left subclavian artery stenoses. The primary clinical indication was posterior fossa ischemia in 11 patients, upper limb ischemia in 14 and both symptoms in 6. In 2 patients, dilatation of an asymptomatic high-degree left subclavian artery stenosis was performed before coronary artery bypass surgery using the internal mammary artery. Eighteen patients on follow-up over 6-60 months (mean 25 months) are free of symptoms with equivalent systolic blood pressures in both arms. Three patients showed relapse of the stenosis after 8, 12, and 15 months; one was successfully treated with a second dilatation. Complications consisted of an occlusion at the left axillary artery puncture site and a distal embolus to a finger artery. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty appears safe and efficient therapy for subclavian artery stenoses with excellent short- and long-term results.

Local thrombolysis in femoropopliteal occlusion: early and late results.

The early and late results of local thrombolysis with low-dose streptokinase followed by balloon dilatation in 64 patients with an occluded femoropopliteal artery are reviewed. The primary success rate was 77% for the native arteries; it was higher (80%) for short (less than 10 cm) as compared with long occlusion (40%) and for patients with claudication as compared with those with advanced ischemia (89% versus 48%). Eleven complications were observed in 10 patients, most frequently a local hematoma at the puncture site. Ascending thrombosis and absence of lysis or incomplete lysis were the main reasons for failure. The cumulative patency rate after 1 and 2 years follow-up was 87% and 82%, respectively.