This study evaluated the influence of annual land applications of Class B biosolids on the soil microbial and chemical properties monitored over 20 year period. The study was initiated in 1986 at the University of Arizona Marana Agricultural Center, Tucson, Arizona. The final application of biosolids was in March 2005, followed by growth of cotton from April through November 2005. Surface soil samples (0-30 cm) were collected monthly from March 2005 through December 2005, and analyzed for soil microbial properties. Soil cores (0-150 cm) were also collected in December and analyzed for various soil chemical properties. The study showed that land application of Class B biosolids had no significant effect on the number of indigenous soil microbial numbers including bacteria, actinomycetes, and fungi (no bacterial or viral pathogens were present in soil samples collected in December) but enhanced microbial activity in the biosolid amended plots. Bacterial diversity was not impacted after 20 years of land application when evaluated through cloning and sequence analysis of bacterial 16S rRNA. Both soils had a broad phylogenetic diversity comprising more than five major phyla including: Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes. Chemical analyses showed that land application of biosolids significantly increased soil pH but did not affect soil salinity and CaCO3 values as compared with the control plots. However, this lack of increase in salinity was likely due to the leaching of soluble salts through the soil profile since irrigation rates. Land application significantly increased soil macro-nutrients including C, N and P and caution should be taken with respect to phosphate loadings to prevent nutrient contamination of surface waters. The biosolid amended soil concentrations of available and total metals were low (compared to the typical background soil metal concentrations). Metal concentrations attenuated rapidly with increasing soil depth, and were generally similar to values found in control soils at a depth of 150cm. Increases in available metal concentrations were modest. It is important to note that there are differences between these studies with respect to different cropping systems, biosolids type, climate and soil type, as well as irrigation rates in the arid southwest.

Due to national environmental goals, 191 closed landfills were inventoried according to a national methodology for inventory of polluted areas. The inventory took place in thirteen of the municipalities in the region of Västerbotten during the summer of 2013. 159 of the landfills were classified to risk class 3 on a scale of 4. Landfills in this category consist of diverse nature, ranging from adequate coverage but poor placement, to insufficient coverage and visible leakage, but without urgent risk. The purpose of this report was to follow up on the inventory. It resulted in identifying and prioritizing the actions required and a general plan of action for the landfills in the region. The focus was mainly on landfills in class 3, but those in risk class 2 are also included. This report was based mostly on forms for the closed landfills and a survey aimed at regional administrations. The result showed that the most common actions required were clean up, coverage, investigation of leakage and information about the unsuitability of depositing waste, including yard waste, at a closed landfill. A status division of the landfills in class 3 was determined, where the landfills that required actions were assigned the statuses +, 0 or -. Criteria for + includes proximity to vulnerable nature, risk for contamination of drinking water, poor coverage, or visible leakage. The landfills in class 2 should be prioritized for further actions, and after that those in risk class 3 with the + status.

Background A significant proportion of children are exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) throughout the world. This is mainly because of exposure to parental smoking. It is unknown to what extent the negative effects of ETS on respiratory symptoms track from childhood into adulthood. Methods TESAOD (Tucson Epidemiologic Study of Airway Obstructive Disease) is a large population-based prospective study that was initiated in 1972. Participants were followed prospectively with questionnaires and pulmonary function tests (PFTs) completed about every two years in 12 follow-up surveys up to 1996. Skin prick tests and blood samples for IgE measurements were collected at surveys 1, 6, and 11. We identified subjects who entered the study as children (<15 years old) and were followed to adulthood (>18 years) during the study follow-up. Based on questionnaire data, active asthma, wheeze, cough, and chronic cough (cough for three consecutive months) were coded as never (never reported in childhood or adulthood), incident (never reported in childhood, but ≥ one positive report in adulthood), remittent (≥ one positive report in childhood, but not in adulthood), and persistent (≥ one positive report both in childhood and adulthood). PFTs measurements included forced expiratory volume in 1 second, forced vital capacity, and forced expiratory flow at 25-75%. Parent information on smoking status was collected simultaneously at child visits. ETS exposure status was assessed as “ever” or “never” between birth and 15 years. Results Information on parental ETS exposure in childhood and outcomes in adulthood was available for 444 non-Hispanic white participants (51.4% male) with mean age at initial survey of 7.7 years. Total mean follow-up time was 19.0 years (8.8 years in adulthood). Between birth and 15 years, 53.4% of children were exposed to ETS. After adjusting for sex, age at enrollment, years of follow-up, and personal smoking status (assessed at age 15 and above), combined parental ETS exposure in childhood was significantly associated with persistent wheeze (RR(adj) 1.9, p=0.026), persistent cough (RR(adj) 5.9, p<0.001), and persistent (RR(adj) 3.7, p=0.030) and incident chronic cough (RR(adj) 2.3, p=0.040). Paternal ETS exposure in childhood was associated with persistent wheeze (RR(adj) 2.3, p=0.002), persistent cough (RR(adj) 3.9, p<0.001), persistent (RR(adj) 4.8, p=0.004) and incident chronic cough (RR(adj) 2.2, p=0.031), and persistent asthma (RR(adj) 2.3, p=0.016). Maternal ETS exposure was associated with persistent (RR(adj) 1.9, p=0.029) and incident cough (RR(adj) 2.5, p=0.006). Maternal ETS exposure was associated with an increased percent predicted FVC in adulthood (coefficient, 3.75; p=0.019). No other effects on lung function were seen. There were no effects of ETS exposure on total serum IgE or allergic sensitization. ETS exposure was associated with respiratory symptoms in adulthood among both never and current smokers. Conclusions ETS exposure in childhood has long term health effects on lung function and respiratory symptoms. These effects do not appear to be IgE-mediated. ETS exposure, especially paternal ETS exposure, seems to influence the persistence of respiratory symptoms from childhood to adulthood and to affect women more than men. These effects are independent of personal smoking and also seen in never smokers. Both smoking mothers and fathers should be targeted when attempting to reduce ETS exposure among children.

This thesis has examined what long-term psychological and neurological effects that are apparent in children and adults who have experienced parental divorce. It was predicted that significantly more children and adult children from divorced families would have increased symptoms of mental disorders than children and adult children from married homes e.g., anxiety, depression, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. It was further predicted that parental divorce would negatively affect the neurological system in the offspring. The correlation between children of divorce and negative neurological effects was not found to be true. However, adult children of divorce have significantly lower baseline cortisol levels compared to adult children of marriage. Dysregulated cortisol levels are highly associated with the development of e.g., anxiety, depression, and brain damage. Parental divorce did not only influence how secretion of the hormone cortisol is regulated within adult children of divorce, but how both children and adult children of divorce psychologically adapt post-divorce. Children of divorce have for instance lower general well-being, more symptoms of anxiety and depression, lower self-esteem, and feel more stress than children of marriage. Adult children of divorce are more likely to experience marital discord, getting divorced themselves, anxiety and depression, lower academic performance, and substance abuse, etc. The result of the thesis suggests that children and adult children from divorced families are negatively affected, both psychologically and neurologically, regardless of age. Parental divorce and supplementary effects make it more likely for children and adult children to experience more symptoms of mental disorders.

This thesis has examined what long-term psychological and neurological effects that are apparent in children and adults who have experienced parental divorce. It was predicted that significantly more children and adult children from divorced families would have increased symptoms of mental disorders than children and adult children from married homes e.g., anxiety, depression, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. It was further predicted that parental divorce would negatively affect the neurological system in the offspring. The correlation between children of divorce and negative neurological effects was not found to be true. However, adult children of divorce have significantly lower baseline cortisol levels compared to adult children of marriage. Dysregulated cortisol levels are highly associated with the development of e.g., anxiety, depression, and brain damage. Parental divorce did not only influence how secretion of the hormone cortisol is regulated within adult children of divorce, but how both children and adult children of divorce psychologically adapt postdivorce. Children of divorce have for instance lower general well-being, more symptoms of anxiety and depression, lower self-esteem, and feel more stress than children of marriage. Adult children of divorce are more likely to experience marital discord, getting divorced themselves, anxiety and depression, lower academic performance, and substance abuse, etc. The result of the thesis suggests that children and adult children from divorced families are negatively affected, both psychologically and neurologically, regardless of age. Parental divorce and supplementary effects make it more likely for children and adult children to experience more symptoms of mental disorders.

The current study focuses on exploring the effects of previous child neglect on current psychological distress in college students. By bringing attention to the lasting impact of neglect through adulthood, mental health professionals will see the need for increased services for this population. A convenience sample of 93 Master of Social Work students responded to questions geared towards experience of neglect as a child and current psychological distress. Correlation analysis was used to examine the relationship between the two variables. No significant results were found. However, future studies are suggested as alternate versions of this study may support the need for early intervention and treatment services for individuals who have experienced neglect as a child. Recommendations for future studies include using a more diverse population and possibly including a qualitative portion to further explore correlations.

The acute nervous system toxicity of organophosphate (OP) pesticides is well described. However, the reported long-term effects of OP pesticides on the nervous system are inconsistent. This inconsistency may be due to imprecise estimates of pesticide exposure, variability of central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) assessment, small samples, and poor control of confounding. The primary goal of this research was to examine the association between long-term OP pesticide use on CNS and PNS function among pesticide applicators. An additional goal was to examine the association between high pesticide exposure events (HPEEs), which typically do not result in acute toxicity, and CNS function. Study participants were recruited from among applicators enrolled in the Agricultural Health Study (AHS) in Iowa and North Carolina. In 2006-2008, 701 male pesticide applicators completed a battery of neurobehavioral (NB) and neurological tests. Information about individual pesticide use was obtained from previous AHS interviews and a questionnaire administered during NB testing. Associations between pesticide use and neurological outcomes were estimated with linear and logistic regression models while controlling for covariates. When associations were examined between agent-specific pesticide use and nine NB tests, significantly poorer performance was observed on four tests and significantly better performance on five tests. Additionally, for some pesticides, we observed differential associations by state, suggesting that regional differences in pesticide practices may influence neurotoxicity. Overall, our results did not provide strong evidence that OP pesticide use was associated with adverse NB test performance. A history of at least one HPEE was reported by 23 percent of participants. Significant adverse associations were observed between HPEEs and two of the nine NB tests. Participants with HPEEs were, on average, 4.9 seconds slower on a test of visual scanning/processing, and 2.2 seconds slower on a test of visual scanning/motor speed. Overall, small but meaningful associations were observed between HPEEs and adverse CNS function. When associations were examined between pesticide use and PNS function, five of six neurological physical examination outcomes were associated with ever-use of one or more OP pesticides. Odds ratios ranged from 1.9 to 3.1. However, mostly null associations were observed between OP pesticide use and electrophysiological tests, hand strength, sway speed and vibrotactile threshold. This study provides some evidence that long-term exposure to OP pesticides is associated with impaired PNS function. In summary, our results suggest that exposure to a few individual OP pesticides as well as HPEEs may contribute to adverse neurological function. The observed exposure-effect associations were present after adjustment for confounding and were independent of past-diagnosed pesticide poisoning. We believe this research contributes important new evidence to an inconsistent literature. Reducing pesticide exposure and preventing HPEEs among pesticide applicators remain important public health goals.

Anxiety and depression are common in children and adolescents, and involve individual suffering, risk of future psychiatric problems, and high costs to society. However, only a limited number of children experiencing debilitating anxiety and depression are identified and receive professional help. One approach that could possibly reduce the prevalence of these conditions is universal school-based prevention aimed at reducing the impact of risk factors and strengthening protective factors involved in the development of anxiety and depression. The current thesis aimed to contribute to the literature on universal prevention of anxiety and depression in children. Study I involved a meta-analysis of earlier randomized, and cluster-randomized trials of universal prevention of anxiety and depression. Overall, the meta-analysis showed small but significant effects of universal preventive interventions, meaning that lower levels of anxiety and depression were evident after intervention completion and partially evident at follow-up assessments. No variables were found to significantly enhance the effects, however, there was a tendency for larger effects to be associated with mental health professionals delivering the interventions. In Study II, a widely adopted prevention program called Friends for Life was evaluated in a large school-based cluster-randomized effectiveness trial. The results showed no evidence of an intervention effect for the whole sample. However, children with elevated depressive symptoms at baseline and children with teachers who highly participated in supervision, seemed to benefit from the intervention in the short term. Study III involved a 3-year follow-up of Study II and an examination of the effects of sample attrition. The results showed no long-term effects for the whole sample and no maintenance of the short-term subgroup effects observed in Study II. Finally, to increase our understanding of the development of anxiety in children and to assist future improvements of universal prevention, Study IV evaluated different trajectories of overall anxiety together with related patterns of disorder-specific symptoms in a school-based sample over 39 months. Evidence favored a model of three different developmental trajectories across age. One trajectory was characterized by increasing levels of overall anxiety, but fluctuating disorder-specific symptoms arguably related to the normal challenges of children’s developmental level, which warrants an increased focus on age-relevant challenges in universal prevention. The four studies provide further understanding of the overall effectiveness of universal prevention of anxiety and depression in children, the short- and long-term effects of universal prevention in a Swedish context, and ideas for further development of preventive interventions.

Nanoparticle (NP) implementation in industry has increased during the last years. However, the consequences of NP release to the environment have not been fully understood yet and long-term effects are hardly predictable. Information regarding a possible NP uptake by organisms is urgently needed. Here, we investigate the uptake of presynthesized AuNPs of different diameters by living diatoms. To better understand the influence of NPs on diatoms, cells were monitored in vivo using Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS). By 3D Raman imaging, AuNPs with diameters ≥50 nm could clearly be localized inside the cells, whereas smaller AuNPs were never detected in the cell interior. This indicates a size-dependent uptake mechanism that comes along with different toxicities. As diatoms present an essential source of the marine food chain, this observation is relevant not only for diatoms themselves but also for higher organisms.

No description available.