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Nitrate ground water contamination is a relatively frequent problem due to the massive use of fertilizers in agriculture. The health effects of contamination are due to the transformation of nitrates into nitrites in the G.I. tract and possibly the transformation of nitrites into nitrosamines in the stomach. The risk of methemoglobinemia in infants is due to nitrites contained in the water used to reconstitute milk for feeding. There are possible but unproven risks associated with the formation of nitrosamines, i.e. teratogenous and cancer risks. Drinking water standards are only based on the risk of methemoglobinemia, but given the present state of knowledge they appear to be safer in relation to the other potential risks. In the face of the increase in nitrates in ground water and the partially known risks, it appears necessary to try and prevent this type of contamination and inform the persons at risk, such as pregnant women and young mothers. It would also be useful to promote research on the effects of nitrates and nitrites on humans.

99mTc-SESTAMIBI is a new myocardial perfusion agent used in the detection of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. In the present study, myocardial scintiscanning (on treadmill) with 99mTc-SESTAMIBI and 201-Thallium were compared, and both were compared with coronary angiography. Some 130 consecutive patients were evaluated within an interval of a few weeks with scintiscans of both 99mTc-SESTAMIBI and 201-Thallium: 82 of them were also examined by coronary angiography. Segmental analysis of the two series of scans revealed some correlation in 89.2% of the segments, while correlation of the final diagnosis showed agreement in 92% of cases. Compared to coronary angiography, sensitivity in the detection of CAD was found to be 75.8% for 201-Thallium and 72.5% for 99mTc-SESTAMIBI. The authors conclude that 99mTc-SESTAMIBI is a promising myocardial perfusion agent which displays an excellent correlation with 201-Thallium.