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Methanol Outbreak in the Czech Republic in the year 2012 – Almost Two Years Later
Navrátil, Tomáš ; Zakharov, S. ; Pelclová, D. ; Mrázová, K.
Almost two years ago, in autumn 2012, a large methanol outbreak was registered in the Czech Republic (CR). The first case was registered in September 2012 in Moravian city Havířov. The source was connected with illegal production and sale of adulterated spirits. About 50 dead and more than 150 cases of methanol intoxications have been reported since September 2012. Some cases of intoxications, connected with old methanol sources distributed in 2012, have been registered up to now. Not all of total amount of prepared methanolic drinks has been found and hundreds liters of toxic methanol have remained in stores or in households. n the other hand, many people intoxicated during this outbreak and classified as “fully recovered” by their hospital discharge, have suffered by sequels of their intoxication at present (visual and nervous system disturbances) and their number has been increasing.
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Markers of Oxidative Stress are Elevated in Workers Exposed to Nanoparticles
Pelclová, D. ; Ždímal, Vladimír ; Fenclová, Z. ; Vlčková, Š. ; Schwarz, Jaroslav ; Pušman, Jan ; Zíková, Naděžda ; Syslová, K. ; Kuzma, Marek ; Navrátil, Tomáš ; Zakharov, S. ; Kačer, P.
Health-effects of nanoparticles in humans are little understood. Pre-shift and post-shift spirometry, markers in exhaled breath condensate (EBC), and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) were measured both in 20 workers exposed to TiO2 aerosol and 19 controls. Particle number size distributions were monitored by aerosol spectrometers SMPS and APS, covering the overall size range 15 nm-10 μm. Simultaneously, the spatial distributions of total particle number and mass concentrations were determined using a particle number concentration monitor (P-TRAK) and a monitor of particle mass concentrations (DustTRAK DRX). Total aerosol concentrations in the production plant varied greatly in both space and time; number concentrations 1x104-2x105 particles/cm3 and mass concentrations 0.1-30 mg/m3. In the workshops, 90% of the particles were smaller than 100 nm in diameter and particle concentrations were 10x higher than in the control room.
Fulltext: content.csg -  PDF
Plný tet: SKMBT_C22013111914100 - PDF
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Cave formation initiated by dissolution of carbonate cement in qartzose sandstones
Adamovič, Jiří ; Mikuláš, Radek ; Navrátil, Tomáš ; Mertlík, J.
Besides cavities of irregular shape, European sandstones also feature symmetrical cavities of spherical, ellipsoidal or teardrop shapes. Most of them are tens of centimetres across but some reach as much as 2–3 m in diameter and may coalesce into large caves tens of metres in length. Their origin has not been clearly explained yet. Based on the field comparison between such cavities in quartzose sandstones and incompletely developed cavities in carbonate-cemented sandstones, it can be demonstrated that the symmetrical cavities form by carbonate dissolution within the limits of former carbonate concretions. The diagnostic features of post-concretionary cavities include their circular or elliptical cross-section, a uniform orientation of their long axes across the region, and the presence of a set of parallel vertical joints or grooves/ribs on their inner walls. In some sandstone areas (e.g., Petite Suisse area in Luxembourg, Kokořín area in the Czech Republic), a wide variety of transitional forms can be found between the cavities and concretions forming positive relief on a vertical cliff face, depending on the position of the carbonate dissolution front in the present landscape.
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Characterization of Liposomes Used as Model System of Biological Membranes by Glassy Carbon Electrode
Parisová, Martina ; Navrátil, Tomáš ; Šestáková, Ivana ; Barek, J.
This contribution deals with study and characterization of liposomes. These vesicles may serve as model membranes used for study of transporting processes of heavy metal ions across the real phospholipid membranes (PLMs). 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine was used for the formation of large unilamellar vesicles (LUV). These vesicles were prepared by hydration method. Interactions of cadmium ions with LUV in solution have been characterized using voltammetry, where glassy carbon electrode was used as the working electrode. Size and presence of liposomes in sample was proved by dynamic light scattering and free cadmium ions in samples were determined by differential pulse voltammetry.
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Short Information on Methanol Outbreak in the Czech Republic in the year 2012
Navrátil, Tomáš ; Zakharov, S. ; Pelclová, D. ; Mrázová, K.
This contribution reports briefly on the large methanol outbreak in the Czech Republic (CR) in autumn 2012. The first case was registered in September 2012 in Havířov. The source was unknown at that time, but it was connected with the illegal production and sale of adulterated spirits. More than 130 cases of methanol intoxication have been reported during September 2012 – April 2013. 44 people died, about 1/5 of intoxicated patients have suffered by sequels of intoxication and their number have been increasing. Moreover, the samples of methanol can be found in some illegal stores and in some households up to now.
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